By ALEX COSTELLO
At a special meeting on July 6, the village Board of Trustees accepted a bid for its 2009 roadway project that was higher than expected, leaving some wondering where the money would come from. The bid, just over $1.6 million, is for repair work on Princeton Road, from the South Side High School entrance to North Long Beach Road; Scott Place, from Woods Avenue to the dead-end; and Yorktown Street, from Sunrise Highway to the village line. The bid total was reduced in negotiations with the contractor, Richard W. Grim Inc., but it is still significantly higher than the village's initial estimate in March 2008 because it includes work that was not in that estimate.
"There was additional water main work on Merrick Road, there was drainage work on different streets, there were concrete street patches that were included in the bid and also shoulder repairs," village spokesman Jeff Kluewer explained.
In addition to the electrical system work below ground, the water mains on Princeton Road and Scott Place will be upgraded from 6-inch to 8-inch pipes. When the work beneath the streets is complete, they will be repaved.
The village has most of the money needed for the project in its general fund and in the Electric Department's fund. The Water Department, however, does not have all the money it needs for the water main upgrades. "The village has bonded for this project, [and] in addition it has money from the previous bond issues, so there's adequate funding for the street resurfacing component," said Comptroller Michael Schussheim. "The water component's going to be more difficult, and we're probably going to have to borrow additional money for that."
All the work should be completed by Oct. 31. The work on Princeton Road is scheduled to be finished by the time school begins after Labor Day, because South Side High School is at the end of that street.
"We certainly are confident, barring any construction anomalies and weather - [like] a continuation of this long monsoon season we're having - we're confident that we'll have the road in very good shape," said Village Engineer Paul Pallas. "Whether it's in 100 percent shape by the time school opens, I don't know. Our goal is 100 percent, but allowing for a couple of contingencies, it will be driveable."
Comments about this story? ACostello@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 207.
