Springdale panel favors contracts for road extension

SPRINGDALE — A contract for the second phase of the planned extension of West Emma Avenue was endorsed Wednesday by members of the Springdale City Council.

Meeting as a committee, the council members recommended approval of two resolutions, one authorizing a $16.5 million construction contract and the second a $535,000 contract for construction services on the project.

The City Council will consider the resolutions when it meets Tuesday.

The council members recommended awarding the construction contract to Crossland Heavy Contractors. The company submitted the low bid on the project in December, with its bid coming in at $16,539,926.50.

The project is part of the city’s 2023 bond issue.

The second contract recommended for approval is for construction services on the same project. The contract with Garver engineering firm is for an amount not to exceed $535,000. According to information from the city, the construction services include three months of part-time field coordination during utility relocation, about 11 months of full-time inspection during bridge construction and about three months of part-time inspection during the remaining roadway construction.

The city has had a $1.2 million contract with Garver to do construction services on the first phase of the project.

According to information from the city’s website, the project includes extending Har-Ber Avenue from 48th Street to Gutensohn Road. The east end of the proposed street will be at the West Emma Avenue and Gutensohn Road intersection, and the west end will be at the intersection of 48th Street and Har-Ber Avenue. The project will include a bridge across Interstate 49, three lanes with a center turn lane (two lanes across the bridge), sidewalk, a 12-foot side path, and traffic signals at 48th Street, 40th Street and Gutensohn Road. Phase 1 of the project consists of improvements from Gutensohn to 40th Street, which is approximately 0.75 miles. The cost of phase 1 is put at almost $10 million.

Phase 2 includes the construction of Har-Ber Avenue from 48th Street east to 40th Street and the widening of 40th Street, including an overpass above I-49.