By Bill Short
The Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen has unanimously selected a consulting firm to provide inspection services for the Raleigh-Millington Road bridge replacement project.
Board members took the action during their April 13 regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Alderman Mike Caruthers and seconded by Alderman Don Lowry.
Millington has received a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation for replacement of the bridge over Big Creek.
After issuing a Request for Qualifications, the city’s Consultant Selection Review Committee recommended that a contract be awarded to Fisher & Arnold to provide “construction engineering inspection services” for the project.
But the contract is subject to approval by City Attorney Gerald Lawson and concurrence by TDOT.
During discussion shortly before the vote, City Engineer Jason Dixon said TDOT requested that construction funds be applied for through the Federal Highway Administration.
City Finance Director John Trusty said the FHWA must authorize the city to proceed to construction.
“But once we approve the construction contract,” he noted, “we want to have the CEI services ready to go.”
Dixon said money has already been “moved up” from the “construction set-aside bucket” that the Metropolitan Planning Organization has.
He noted that Memphis Light, Gas & Water is currently removing its gas main that is “hanging” on the bridge and acquiring right of way to relocate the gas line.
During a telephone interview last week, Dixon said the FHWA gave its approval on April 24, and the city began advertising for bids three days later. The bids will be opened on May 22.
He noted that a bid is scheduled to be awarded at the board’s June 8 meeting, pending TDOT’s concurrence, with construction expected to start by the middle of that month.
Dixon said TDOT ordered the bridge to be closed, because the “webbing” on its steel beams had “rusted through.” The city was required to repair the damage or replace the bridge.
In December 2015, the board unanimously approved an engineering consultant for the bridge replacement project.
Millington had entered into a Local Agency Project Agreement with TDOT, which sent it a notice to procure an engineering firm to do all the preliminary phases of the project.
After soliciting qualifications from various firms, the Consultant Selection Review Committee recommended that the board employ Smith, Seckman, Reid Inc. at a lump-sum rate not to exceed $366,700.
During discussion shortly before that vote, Trusty said 80 percent of the contract price will be provided by TDOT.
He noted that the contract includes the “environmental testing” as well as the design of the project.
In other action at last month’s meeting, the board unanimously selected SSR to provide CEI services for improvements to the intersection of Raleigh-Millington Road and state Route 385.
This contract must also receive Lawson’s approval and TDOT’s concurrence.
Two years ago, the board unanimously accepted an 80-20 TDOT grant and approved a contract for the intersection improvements. Because they are estimated to cost $659,000, the city’s share will be $131,800.
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