CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A project to replace an aging Ohio County bridge is among 10 highway construction projects awarded by the West Virginia Division of Highways on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021 and Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021.

Ohio-West Virginia Excavating Co. was awarded a contract for $1,644,370.15 to replace the Lewis Bridge in Valley Grove. The span was built in 1933.

The bridge, located on US 40 in Ohio County, is the second of four weight-restricted bridges to be replaced in the area. Weight restrictions on the bridges limit the ability to use US 40 as a detour during emergencies or as work continues on Interstate 70.

Contractors finished replacing the Bear Fork Bridge on US 40 in December. Replacement of the Playground Bridge – built in 1917 and rehabilitated in the 1980s – is scheduled for 2023. Replacing the Valley Grove Bridge, built in 1941, is on the books to be replaced in 2024.

WVDOH District 6 Engineer Tony Clark said all four bridges restrict the ability to detour heavy traffic onto US 40 during emergencies or construction work on Interstate 70.

Plans are to replace one side of the bridge at a time to avoid closing the span completely during construction.

Contracts awarded in December were:

• Reglas Painting Co. Inc. was low bidder on a cleaning and painting project on the Anmoore Bridge in Harrison County, with a bid of $543,210.
• Euro Paint LLC was low bidder on a cleaning and painting project on the New Buzzard Ford Bridge in Hardy County, with a bid of $467,212.28.
• R.K. Construction Inc. was low bidder on a walking trail project in Shinnston in Harrison County, with a bid of $41,992.13. Ohio-West Virginia Excavating Co. was low bidder on a project to replace the Lewis Bridge in Ohio County, with a bid of $1,644,370.15.
• Rock Forge Bridge Co. LLC was low bidder on a project to replace the Alton Deck Girder Bridge in Upshur County, with a bid of $2,084,596.94.
• Triton Construction Inc. was low bidder on a project to replace the Michael Angiulli Memorial Bridge in Harrison County, with a bid of $8,460,400.
• Allard Excavation LLC was low bidder on a project to replace pipe and correct drainage near the Lincoln Church of God in Lincoln County, with a bid of $380,354.75.
• R.K. Construction Inc. was low bidder on a project to replace the Stoney Lonesome Road Bridge in Roane County, with a bid of $350,792. (Roads to Prosperity)
• SMH Construction Company Inc. was low bidder on a project to replace the Tariff Bridge in Roane County, with a bid of $566,482.43. (Roads to Prosperity)
• R.K. Construction Inc. was low bidder on a project to replace the Blowntimber #1 Bridge in Roane County, $574,692. (Roads to Prosperity)
• Wolf Creek Contracting Company LLC was low bidder on rehabilitation project on the Big Creek Bridge in Fayette County, with a bid of $881,117.75.
• Alan Stone Co. Inc. was low bidder on a project to to replace the Mud Fork Bridge in Roane County, with a bid of $363,449.50. (Roads to Prosperity)
Several factors are considered before awarding a bid, including whether a bid falls above or below the WVDOH Engineer’s Estimate and by what percentage. In cases where a bid is above the Engineer’s Estimate, WVDOH must consider the project need, repercussions of not awarding the project, additional funding sources and whether or not sufficient reasons exist for the differences in estimates. Most projects are reviewed, analyzed and awarded within a week of the bid letting, but the process can take longer.

When the Division of Highways has a project that is determined to be best constructed by a contractor, it is processed through the bid letting system. A letting is a scheduled opportunity for contractors to review and bid on several construction projects at one time. Lettings are held either once or twice per month and conducted through the Bid Express System online at www.bidx.comand handled through the Contract Administration Division. Contractors need to subscribe to Bid Express before bids can be accepted on any project.

As the date and time approaches for the deadline of the letting, contractors are expected to place their bids, with complete documentation as necessary. Shortly after the letting, the respective bids are reviewed. All bids are evaluated thoroughly for competitiveness and deemed acceptable through guidelines as approved by policy, reviewed and approved by the FHWA. Award of the contracts is made based on recommendation by our Awards Committee based on the results that evaluation and approval by the Commissioner. Projects are typically awarded to the lowest bidder that has all proper documentation in place.