https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/627448256/wvdoh-accepts-bids-for-us-340-rockfall-project April 12, 2023, 05:32 GMT A project to stabilize a rockslide-prone section of mountain high above US 340 near Harper's Ferry is among 34 projects in a bid letting conducted by the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
The project will require closing US 340 from September through December to remove rock and install rockfall barriers above US 340 where it hugs the Shenandoah River just south of Harper's Ferry. US 340 is a high-traffic volume corridor carrying about 24,500 vehicles a day including local, commuter, and truck traffic from West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland.
The contract calls for stabilizing the corridor through rock slope scaling, localized rock bolting, and removal of potential large scale rockfall hazards. Additionally, the slope will have rockfall mitigation efforts including draped and pinned mesh, ground-level rockfall barriers, and on-slope rockfall attenuator systems.
A posted detour around the project area during work will be WV 9 and Virginia SR 9 and Virginia SR 671. Work is being scheduled after Memorial Day and before Christmas to lessen the impact on the traveling public.
US 340 along the Shenandoah River was built in the mid-1950s. The cut slopes and exposed rock tower from 150 to more than 300 feet above the roadway. WVDOH will remove rock and install barriers to minimize potential hazards to the traveling public.
For other projects included on the Tuesday, April 11, 2023, bid letting, click here.
Several factors are considered before awarding a bid, including whether a bid falls above or below the WVDOH Engineer's Estimate and by what percentage. In cases where a bid is above the Engineer's Estimate, WVDOH must consider the project need, repercussions of not awarding the project, additional funding sources, and whether sufficient reasons exist for the differences in estimates. Most projects are reviewed, analyzed, and awarded within a week of the bid letting, but the process can take longer.
When the Division of Highways has a project that is determined to be best constructed by a contractor, it is processed through the bid letting system. A letting is a scheduled opportunity for contractors to review and bid on several construction projects at one time. Lettings are held either once or twice per month and conducted through the Bid Express System online at www.bidx.com and handled through the Contract Administration Division. Contractors need to subscribe to Bid Express before bids can be accepted on any project.
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The detailed scope of work has not been released. As of March 22, 2021, the project is in planning stage and part of the fiscal year 2022 Smart Scale. A firm date for public hearing timeline has not been released. The final Six-Year Improvement Program is scheduled to be acted on by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in June 2021. Once projects are selected, they are fully funded through construction. Information regarding design firm and general contractor selection timeline has not been disclosed. A firm construction timeline has not been scheduled. *Project information, including timeline and contacts, has been obtained through public sources. The content management team continues to pursue additional details; however, the contact(s) listed have yet to disclose or confirm any information. Inquiries should be directed to the contact(s) listed.
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