WOODCLIFF LAKE—Bids for the Causeway Streetscape Project, which originally came in hundreds of thousands of dollars over previous estimates mainly due to upgraded fencing, are being solicited again but with new specs and no fencing included.
Borough Administrator Tom Padilla said the bids are due back by Thursday, March 24 and that the borough was planning to fund the project with a $175,000 state grant and funding from its local Open Space fund.
The 333-page bid document says the borough intends to award the project at the April 11 council meeting. The project timeline, repeatedly stated in the bid specs, is 60 days.
The state provided a grant extension to allow local officials to rebid the project following unexpectedly high bids, which some attributed to the high cost of fencing, nearly $400,000, in last year’s November project bids.
With a high-quality fence included, the bids came back at more than double the approximately $300,000 that the borough had originally estimated for the entire beautification project. (See “‘We’re so far apart…’ High bids on causeway stall improvement plans,” Pascack Press, Nov. 14, 2021.)
“The project generally consists of the following approximate main item quantities: 800 square yards of concrete sidewalk, 1,550 linear feet of curbing, as well landscaping and minor drainage improvements, to be constructed along Woodcliff Avenue, generally between Mill Road and Broadway, also known as the Causeway,” states the notice posted online.
The specs say the contractor shall price accordingly “to account for weather delays, holidays, and review of shop drawings, and any other potential delays typical of a project of this duration and magnitude. No consideration will be given for extensions or additional compensation due to these delays.”
Under the listing of required work and materials, some selected items included in bid specs are eight Breakaway barricades; 50 traffic cones; 50 construction signs; 3000 linear feet of silt fence; nine hay bales, three trees larger than 6” to 12” in diameter removed; three stumps for removal; one tree trimmed; and 90 linear feet of trench drain.
Other items spelled out include construction of three retaining walls; 970 square yards of integrally colored/stamped concrete sidewalk; 1,560 linear feet of Belgian block curb; 15 ornamental, deciduous trees; 28 deciduous shrubs, 13 perennial containers; 190 square yards of topsoil, hardwood mulch, fertilizing and seeding, and straw mulch.
Moreover, the specs call for 2,000 linear feet of traffic marking lines, two 20-feet high flagpoles and one 25 feet high flagpole; plus three units of solar flag pole lighting, and an allowance of $25,000 to $35,000 for police traffic control.
Borough officials have been working with Suez Water to help with fence financing or replacement but had not reached any agreement on fencing prior to going out for bids in November on the Causeway improvements.
Recently, however, Councilman Steven Falanga reported that Suez had agreed to pay for a chain-link fence to enhance the new Causeway Streetscape.
Former councilman Craig Marson opposed the resolution to spend more than $700,000 in November to improve the Causeway, which was nearly $400,000 over original plans drawn up by council.
While officials expected bids in the $300,000 range — based on prior budget projections — the lowest qualified November bid was from AA Berms LLC, Belleville, for $716,444.
A non-consent agenda resolution to award AA Berms the project was tabled while the council sought a possible state grant extension and second project re-bid.