Selectboard awards Range Road, Hannes Road culvert contracts to SEI Excavating

The Selectboard voted to award contracts for two box culvert replacements to SEI Excavating following a public bid opening. The awards were made for the Range Road culvert (low bid; authorized up to $86,000) and for the Hannes Road culvert (authorized up to $56,000).

Staff reported six bidders for each project and recommended SEI based on prior work the company has completed in town. Board members discussed the wide spreads in bid prices, crane requirements (estimated roughly $5,000–$6,000 per bridge), traffic and closure logistics, and the possibility of staging the two jobs separately so both roads are not shut down simultaneously.

Why it matters: the two culverts have been on the town’s repair list. The board emphasized coordinating crane schedules, detour notices and paving so the installations align with the paving plan. Staff said the town will coordinate road‑closure notices, social‑media alerts and signage and that one-week advance notice was generally acceptable for scheduling closures while school is out.

Next steps: the town will coordinate with the contractor on crane scheduling, prepare detour signage, and proceed with contract paperwork. Board members asked staff to confirm crane availability and confirm related site logistics such as required tree removal or property access before final mobilization.