SEBASTIAN — Sebastian drivers will need to plan extra time for their commute along US 1 starting in two to four weeks as construction crews prepare to better define on-street parking along the major thoroughfare.
Santa Cruz, of Merritt Island, was approved to tackle the nearly $275,000 job of improving the visibility of on-street parking on the east and west sides of US 1 and other enhancements to improve pedestrian and motoring safety.
Under the contract, Santa Cruz has 60 days from start to get the road improvements completed. The work is expected to be complete before the end of the year.
City Manager Al Minner recommended the City Council approve the more expensive of the two options for the project, noting that the difference of $93,000 was worth a better, more consistent feel of what the city already has.
The city had requested bids for a brick-hatch treatment of crosswalks and the parking as well as a hybrid use of brick-hatch for the crosswalks and painted asphalt for the parking.
Minner likened the painted asphalt to a “Disney” effect – not what the city had in mind to fit its fishing village and Old Florida theme.
Santa Cruz was the lowest of the three bids that came in – about $25,000 less than the next bidder and $75,000 less than the highest bidder.
The main point of divergence in cost was the mobilization estimates for traffic control, a point of concern for Vice Mayor Don Wright, as well as City Council candidate Damien Gilliams, who raised the issue.
“That could be a safety issue,” Gilliams said. “Somebody could get hurt.”
Wright added that he wanted to be sure the city’s staff was comparing apples with apples when reviewing the bids.
Minner said they did and that they were comfortable with hiring Santa Cruz to perform the work. He added that Santa Cruz is the firm performing the median improvement projects along County Road 512 and they are running on schedule.
“I have confidence they’ll do a great job,” Minner said.
Minner added that, typically, the cost of mobilization and traffic control is the biggest price difference between contractors on most projects.
