Bids received for a road rehabilitation project to improve a 1.5-mile stretch of Kilauea Avenue in Hilo came in higher than anticipated.
The Tribune-Herald previously reported that the project is described as rehabilitation for the heavily trafficked street, whose pavement surface is significantly degraded throughout the downtown area.
Pavement rehabilitation typically refers to strengthening and repairing existing pavement, not full reconstruction.
The roadwork also will include the installation of new pavement striping and traffic detectors, as well as turn lanes in some areas.
The bids, which were opened July 9, were broken down into three sections. Jas W Glover submitted the lowest overall bid of $7,446,000 for the three sections.
Grace Pacific LLC bid a total of $12,165,397 for all three sections, HI-Built LLC bid $7,807,350, and Yamada and Sons Inc. bid $7,487,249.
County Department of Public Works spokeswoman Denise Laitinen, however, said the expected bid range was $4.5 million to $6.5 million.
The department is currently reviewing the bids.
Once the bidding closes, Laitinen said the bids are checked for compliance with bid requirements.
DPW will then award the bid to the apparent low bidder after getting the OK to do so from the Federal Highway Administration and Department of Transportation.
According to Laitinen, the project is expected to begin in the fall or winter and will take 300 working days to complete, weather permitting.
Federal funds will cover 80% of the project costs, while Hawaii County will be responsible for the remaining 20%.
Meanwhile, other road East Hawaii road projects continue.
A waterline installation and trenching is still ongoing as part of work along Kalanianaole Avenue in Keaukaha.
Laitinen said crews also are continuing sidewalk and driveway construction near the Hilo Harbor entrance and are completing drainage structures on the makai side of the roadway.
A joint effort of the state Department of Transportation and county, the roadwork is being done to improve the roadway itself, as well as improve safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Kalanianaole Avenue is being widened from Kanoelehua Avenue to Kuhio Street to allow for a concrete sidewalk on the makai side, a paved shoulder on the mauka side, bicycle lanes in each direction, one through lane in each direction, a shared turn lane, and installation of a 12-inch diameter waterline.
The $18.4 million project began in March 2018.
Laitinen said the project remains on budget and on schedule, and is expected to be complete by the end of the year, weather and construction conditions — as well as the COVID-19 pandemic situation — permitting.
A one-way traffic pattern currently in effect for a portion of Kalanianaole Avenue because of the road work will remain in place until October, conditions permitting.
Email Stephanie Salmons at ssalmons@hawaiitribune-herald.com.