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Ocala
Thursday, March 28, 2024

City of Ocala looking to award $2.1 million contract for sidewalk improvement project

The City of Ocala is looking to award a $2.1 million contract to a Reddick-based company for a citywide sidewalk improvement project.

The proposed contract between the city and Commercial Industrial Corporation will be presented to the Ocala City Council during its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 19.

The sidewalk improvement project, which is a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Local Agency Program project, will consist of connecting sidewalks with gaps and to make existing sidewalks compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

On December 7, 2021, city council members approved grant funding in the amount of $1,246,666 for the construction of approximately 2.3 miles of sidewalk improvements at the following locations:

  • NW 7th Street from NW Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to NW 6th Terrace (both sides).
  • NE 21st Street from NE 36th Avenue to NE 38th Terrace (north side).
  • SW 3rd Avenue from SW 2nd Street to SW 3rd Street (east side).
  • SW 3rd Street from SW 2nd Avenue to SW 1st Avenue (north side).
  • SW 1st Avenue from SW 2nd Street to SW 3rd Street (west side).
  • SW 1st Avenue from SW 3rd Street to SW 5th Street (east side).
  • SW 5th Street from SW 2nd Avenue to SW 1st Avenue (north side).
  • SE 24th Street from SE 36th Avenue to SE 32nd Avenue (both sides).
  • SW 32nd Avenue from State Road 200 to SW 34th Avenue (south side).

In addition, nearly a quarter of a mile (1,130 feet) of SW 32nd Avenue from State Road 200 to SW 34th Avenue will be resurfaced.

Construction Engineering Inspection services are included in the agreement for the project and will be federally funded by FDOT in the amount of $339,147.

On February 7, 2022, the City of Ocala solicited bids from contractors for this project, and three bids were received on a unit price basis on March 17, 2022. The lowest bidder was Commercial Industrial Corporation ($2,104,713.32), followed by Hernando-based Hartman Civil Construction Company, Inc. ($2,842,277.28) and Wildwood-based CW Roberts Contracting, Inc. ($3,377,236.69).

According to city staff, the grant funding from FDOT will cover $1,246,666 of the project’s cost, and the city’s estimated shared cost is the remaining balance of just over $858,000. A 10% contingency, in the amount of nearly $210,500, is also being requested to allow for the City Engineer to issue change orders to cover any unforeseen conditions and other conflicts that may arise during construction.

With the contingency factored in, the total project cost is not to exceed $2,315,184.65.

City staff feels that Commercial Industrial Corporation has previously completed construction projects for the city in a “very satisfactory” manner, and staff along with FDOT are recommending approval of the contract. City council members will vote on whether to approve or deny the contract during their upcoming regular meeting.

The Ocala City Council meets at 4 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of every month at Ocala City Hall (110 SE Watula Avenue).