Sullivan Road Widening Bid Comes In Below Projected Cost

From the City of Central
The City-Parish Department of Public Works opened bids on May 22, 2012 on the Sullivan Rd widening project from Central Thruway to Wax Rd. A total of 8 bids were received. The estimated cost of the widening project was $15,900,000.
The apparent low bidder was JB James Construction in Baton Rouge with a bid of $11,257,327.55. The project involves widening Sullivan Rd to a 4-lane section with a raised median from the Central Thruway north to the 9400 block of Sullivan, and a 5-lane section from the 9400 block of Sullivan north to the Walmart signal. The Wax Rd intersection will be widened to eight (8) lanes, which includes 3 northbound and 3 southbound lanes, as well as two (2) southbound left turn lanes and one (1) northbound left turn lane.. The existing single lane YIELD approach from westbound Wax Rd onto northbound Sullivan Rd (by Jack in the Box) will be converted to two right turn lanes with a traffic signal instead of a Yield sign.
Here is the schedule of work:
Bid verification and contract documents will need to be reviewed and signed by all parties. This could take 3 to 4 months. Once this is done, a Notice to Proceed will be issued to the contractor from the City-Parish.
The contract then allows for 30 calendar days to Clear & Grubb the southern right-of-way starting at the Central Thruway end. It allows for 60 calendar days to Clear & Grubb the northern right-of-way starting at the Wax Rd end.
The contract then allows for 170 calendar days for Utility Relocations starting at the southern end of the project at the Central Thruway end. It allows for 300 calendar days for Utility Relocations starting at the northern end near the Wax Rd intersection.
After utilities have been relocated, the contract allows for 460 calendar days to complete the widening project by the contractor. If all goes according to schedule, the entire project could be completed in late 2014.