DBE CONTRACTING UPDATE

News for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms and stakeholders

May 2008

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Summer lettings to include Marquette, I-94 work

A transition of sorts will occur this summer on southeast Wisconsin freeway work, as WisDOT will announce the last contract lettings for the Marquette Interchange and one of the first contract lettings for the I-94 North-South Corridor.

Marquette Interchange work wrapping up

The $810 million Marquette Interchange project began construction in 2004 and has featured about 20 construction contracts. These contracts included the core of the interchange, which at over $300 million is easily the largest single contract ever for WisDOT. The department expects to solicit bids this summer for two remaining contracts on the Marquette Interchange:

• The first project will construct a riverwalk section on the Milwaukee River below I-794 between Clybourn Street and St. Paul Avenue. The approximately 220-foot wooden walkway will include a decorative steel and stainless steel mesh railing. The project will also include installation of lighting and landscaping. The new section will connect two previously completed segments of the longer Riverwalk system connecting downtown Milwaukee to the Third Ward.
• A second contract is expected for landscaping in the core interchange. This work will involve planting trees and shrubs around the footprint of the interchange. Although most of the work is at street level, there may also be planting alongside an exit ramp.

The Marquette Interchange will fully open to traffic by the end of 2008.

I-94 project getting underway

The $1.9 billion I-94 North-South Corridor project will begin major construction in early 2009 and will likely include dozens of contracts through 2016. This summer, WisDOT expects to solicit bids to relocate a stream near County Highway G in Racine County. This work will involve grading and excavating, erosion control, vegetation planting and culvert installation. The work is expected to take place between October of 2008 and March of 2009.

WisDOT's Highway Construction Contract Information (HCCI) site provides the advertisements for these and other state highway construction projects. The ads will include the DBE contracting goal for each project. The department expects to officially advertise the Marquette Interchange work on June 3, 2008. The I-94 contract ad should be placed on July 8, 2008.

http://roadwaystandards.dot.wi.gov/hcci/