The Pasco County Commission has awarded a bid to Cone & Graham for work to extend Ridge Road from Sunlake Boulevard to U.S. 41.
This phase of the project has been in the county’s plan for years.
The contract, with a not-to-exceed amount of $85 million, includes a new four-lane road, with a 24-inch water main and a 20-inch reclaimed water main.
In approving the contract during its Feb. 6 meeting, the county board also authorized County Administrator Mike Carballa to execute any amendments or related documents associated with the design-build contract.
Bids for the work were opened on Dec. 19. Two responsive bids were received, including one from a vendor in Pasco County, according to materials in the county board’s Feb. 6 agenda packet.
But because state funding is being used to partially fund the project, no local preference was applied in awarding the bid.
The two responses received were from Cone & Graham and Ajax/Leware Joint Venture II. Cone & Graham received the highest scores from an evaluation committee.
Besides the four-lane divided roadway, the project includes a 5-foot sidewalk, a 12-foot multi-use pathway, and 5-foot bike lanes; a new bridge over the CSX railway; and the water and reclaimed water lines.
The estimated cost for the roadway components is $61 million and the estimated cost for the other components is $24 million.
Completion of at least two lanes of the project is required by the end of December 2025, under an economic incentives agreement previously signed by the county.
Published February 21, 2024
