Borough Updates Road Contracts

Seven of the 16 road service areas, or RSAs, are due for contract upgrades this year. North Willow and Greater Talkeetna will be included in this year’s bids.

The new maintenance contracts will include some significant changes from previous years. Maintenance and small projects, like crack sealing, will now be included in the new contracts. Maintenance had been completely separate in previous years. Large projects, like repaving, will still have separate contracts and coordinate with the local RSAs.

Rather than a five-year term, new contracts will only be for a one-year term, with the possibility of two one-year extensions. In addition, the performance bond will no longer be required on the maintenance contracts. Borough Public Works Director Tom Adams says contractors requested removal of the bond requirement. To his knowledge, no bonds have been pulled for lack of performance.

Snow berm heights have become an issue in recent years. Contractors are required to provide a bid for a zero-inch berm. However, Adams says the Borough requested two alternatives for a 12-inch berm and no berm height restriction. Contractors are currently allowed to leave a berm of 12 inches in driveways. Adams says these options will be evaluated next week with the established RSA advisory boards to determine the best option for each.  

The RSA superintendents will also now be able to track contractors each day. Each contractor will be required to have some sort of cellular-capable tracking device, such as a phone or tablet. Adams says this tool will make it easier for the superintendents to know what work is being completed and where. The public also will eventually be able to view some of the tracking information on a website, though the information will operate on a delay for security reasons. 

Proposals were due March 6 and the Borough will begin reviewing them immediately.