Gen. Sullivan Bridge replacement on hold after single $82M bid nearly doubles NH estimate
DOVER — Plans to remove and replace the old General Sullivan Bridge with a new bridge for bicyclists and pedestrians has hit a major snag, as the lone bid to construct it was almost double the state’s estimate.
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation has opted not to award an $82.2 million bid to Reed & Reed of Woolwich, Maine to remove the bridge superstructure and replace it with a bicyclist and pedestrian connection, according to spokesperson Richard Arcand. The department's estimate at the time of the bid was just under $45.6 million.
“The department has decided not to award the bid for the Newington-Dover General Sullivan Bridge project. The single bid received was almost double our estimate,” he said in a prepared statement. “We are going to reevaluate to see what changes should be considered and rebid at a future date.”
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The 1,528-foot-long bridge, constructed in 1934 as a connector between Newington and Dover, carried vehicular traffic until 1984. That's when the Little Bay bridges opened both northbound and southbound lanes, and they still carry routes 4, 16 and Spaulding Turnpike traffic alongside the old bridge. The General Sullivan Bridge remained open to bicyclists and pedestrians until its permanent closure in 2018, when it was deemed unsafe due to its deteriorating condition.
Seacoast bicyclists and pedestrians have been looking forward to a replacement ever since.
Replacing the General Sullivan Bridge would pave the way for an 18-foot-wide walking and biking path to be built. The new structure would be available to fishermen and would have a concrete deck with at least 3-foot-wide shoulders and a delta frame construction, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The new superstructure has previously been projected by the Department of Transportation to be built by the end of 2026, with the entire project expected to be finished by the following summer.
An initial cost estimate of the whole project put it at around $35.6 million to complete and then rose to $45.6 million, still far below the $82 million bid from Reed & Reed.
Federal funding still leaves tens of millions to cover
A $20 million federal Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant was awarded to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for the project. The remaining costs were expected to be funded with state turnpike toll revenue.
During a three-week period in August, the Department of Transportation was accepting bids for the removal and reuse of the old bridge. The search for a buyer came up empty when the period ended on Aug. 29.
“We have not received any offers to buy the existing structure,” Arcand confirmed this week.
The news of the $82 million bid comes a few months after Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen and Congressman Chris Pappas, all New Hampshire Democrats, joined Department of Transportation officials near the bridge site at Hilton Park in July. The group touted federal funding for the project and the benefits the new bridge would bring to the community.
Previous story: Gen. Sullivan Bridge replacement for bikers, walkers, fishing: Here's what to know
Representatives of Reed & Reed Inc. did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Gen. Sullivan Bridge replacement on hold: $82M bid doubles estimate
