10th Avenue construction delayed

For Immediate Release: Friday, April 28, 2017

The 10th Avenue widening project, between Baseline and Holladay streets, will not be completed until 2018 because the construction company is unable to fulfill its contract.

Old Republic Surety Co., the bonding company for MAG, LLC, was notified on April 21 that the construction company would not be able to fulfill its contracts with Washington County. Gary Stockhoff, Washington County Department of Land Use & Transportation Engineering and Construction Services division manager, said this is the first time a contractor has been unable to fulfill a contract for a capital project.

Contractors that bid on government construction jobs are required to take out performance bonds that guarantee the project will be completed in the event the contractor cannot complete the work. The County is working with the bonding company to resume work on the 10th Avenue project. It is expected to restart in two to three months, with completion anticipated in 2018.

MAG is also under contract for the Hwy 47/Verboort Roundabout project, Stockhoff said.

"That project is largely completed, however," Stockhoff said. "The bonding company will also be involved with getting the roundabout to 100 percent completion."

Both contracts with MAG were bid and awarded in accordance with state statutes.

Washington County is committed to planning and protecting the uses of the land and to building and maintaining a great transportation system, balancing care for the natural environment, economic development, safety and community livability.

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