KAILUA-KONA — A project to widen 2.8 miles of Mamalahoa Highway in Waimea is back on the road.
After having to cancel a solicitation for bids due to fairness concerns regarding the process, the Hawaii County Department of Public Works (DPW) re-bid the project in late 2017, attracting bids from five companies. The lowest bid was presented by Goodfellow Bros Inc. at $19.6 million.
“To the best of our knowledge, there are no issues that would delay or jeopardize the project moving forward,” said Barett Otani, DPW spokesman.
The department officially awarded the contract Feb. 6 and Goodfellow Bros Inc. is scheduled to receive a notice to proceed on March 15, said Otani. From there, the contractor has up to 60 days to get started. The project is expected to be completed in 480 days, conditions permitting. Based on that timeline, work should wrap up around summer 2019.
The much-needed widening project for the area has been in the works for years, with the project included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program — which identifies projects slated for federal funding — since 2011, according to state records. It consists of widening the Mamalahoa Highway at 18 major intersections, with left-turn pockets and drainage improvements, between Mana Road and Mud Lane.
In the latest bid results, Hawaii County anticipated the project would cost about $23 million to complete. About 80 percent of the cost will be covered by Federal Highways Administration funds while the county matches with 20 percent. Gov. David Ige and the state Department of Transportation have already committed the federal funding for the project. The county has already set aside funding for its portion of the bill.
Bids for the project were first opened in late October 2017 with Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. submitting the apparent low bid at $19.11 million. In November, the county canceled the bid solicitation after a bidder protested the process.
A solicitation for bids was again advertised in December and they were opened Dec. 28. It normally takes about a month for the county to complete and award the project, which occurred Feb. 6.
Goodfellow Bros Inc. did not respond for comment.