Committee approves $14.26 million award for Tremper storm sewer project

The Kenosha Public Works Committee on July 20 approved awarding the Tremper storm sewer improvements contract to A and W Oaks and Sun Incorporated for a total amount of $14,260,000, including contingencies.

A public works staff member described the project as a major flood-control effort covering more than 10,000 linear feet of large-diameter concrete storm sewer and requiring bored crossings under a busy roadway and under railroad tracks. The work will extend onto the south side of the Dunes property recently acquired by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and will establish a new outfall to Lake Michigan. “This is our next big flood control management project that has been in our CIP budget for a while,” the staff member said.

Staff told the committee that bids exceeded the engineer’s estimate and attributed the difference to recent market fluctuations in concrete and concrete-structure pricing and to a small number of specialized, high-risk items. Staff said the three bids were closely clustered — less than $17,000 apart — and that the department recommended moving ahead with the apparent low bidder plus contingency. The contract is structured as a multi-year effort; staff described it as a three-year contract with work phasing and seasonal shutdown periods.

Committee members asked about engineering costs and project scope. Staff estimated engineering was in the mid-six-figure range (the transcript references “6 or $700,000”) and said funding to cover the difference would be supplemented by savings from prior projects that finance and administration have cleared for this purpose.

The committee moved, seconded and voted to approve the award. The motion passed by voice vote.