Construction of a new downtown Terre Haute convention center is scheduled to be bid by March 20, says Steve Bauer, the Nations Group’s vice-president of construction services.
Bauer told the Vigo County Capital Improvement Board (CIB) on Feb. 21 that construction manager Garmong Construction Services will have final design plans from CSO Architects by March 15. After the meeting, he told the News and Tribune that it would likely be March 20 when the project is let for bids.
The construction bids will be opened and a contract awarded by the board prior to June, when construction is slated to start, the newspaper reported.
First, utility relocations must first be undertaken, with the largest task of relocating a 16-inch water main for Indiana American Water, Bauer said was quoted as saying. That cost is estimated at $600,000.
Bauer said cost estimated by the water utility seems high, noting that, by law, the utility cannot make a profit from the relocation but will invoice the CIB for actual expenses.
Additionally, Patriot Engineering and Environmental Inc. will complete a Phase II environmental study on the downtown building site.
“The report will identify certain areas where the contractor needs to be aware of when excavating,” Bauer said. “Obviously if we find anything that is environmentally sensitive, we will call the environmental remediation teams to analyze it and determine what needs to be done.”
