Ferry ramp bid awarded

Wahkiakum County commissioners on Tuesday accepted a $1.87 million bid to construct a new ramp at the Puget Island ferry landing.

Bergerson Construction of Astoria was the winning bidder. Hickey Marine of Vancouver was the other bidder at $2.3 million.

The county's consulting engineer estimated the project would cost $1.65 million.

Overall, the project will cost $3.05 million, said county Public Works Director Pete Ringen. The additional costs include engineering, $705,000, construction of piling and slabs, $386,000, and contingency and management, $46,000.

Ringen said the county has funding lined up to cover all but $232,604. He said the County Road Fund has over $1 million that could cover the deficit, and commission Chair Dan Cothren said the Capitol Project Cumulative Reserve, with $1.3 million, could also be tapped.

Commissioner Blair Brady wondered if the design or project overall could be altered to lower the cost.

"We need to move forward," Ringen said. "The existing landing isn't in good condition. We have a good bid from a good contractor. Even though the cost is over the engineer's estimate, we need to move forward."

"I think, no, I know there's funding there," Cothren said. "We need to proceed. I feel that just prolonging this will just make it cost more."

"I agree with what Dan has said," Brady said. "I just want to know the consequences."

Greg Morrill, president and general manager of Bergerson, said his firm has often worked with clients on tight budgets. "We will work with your engineers to make it work," he said.

With that, the Commissioners Cothren, Brady and Lisa Marsyla voted to accept the contract.

Construction will get going in earnest in November when federal environmental regulations allow contractors to work in the waters of the Columbia River.

The contract calls for extending and widening the landing approach, installing a new ramp and berthing pilings, and installation of a bypass ramp so the ferry can keep running during construction.