Algonquin Bypass Low Bid $20 Million Under Estimate

The contract to build Algonquin's Route 31 Western Bypass will likely be awarded within six weeks after Chicago contractor, F.H. Paschen, S.N. Nielsen, submitted the low bid among 13 for the project Friday.  Paschen Neilsen's $33,346,673.91 bid was almost $20 million less than IDOT's estimate for construction last year.

The contract calls for building more than two miles of four-lane divided highway from Huntingon Drive to north of Cary Road, a bridge over Crystal Creek and a diamond interchange with Algonquin Road east of the Algonquin Post Office.  Both IDOT and the construction company have up to 45 days from Friday to review the bid and, respectively, accept it or withdraw it, according to IDOT spokesman Guy Tridgell.  If either side runs out the full period it would push the construction start into August. Completion isn't expected until September, 2014.

Separately but related to the Bypass, Klasen Road at Route 31 is scheduled to close next Monday  for about two months for reconstruction. A marked detour will be provided using Cary-Algonquin Road.

In the pic:  It's not evident from below but Janesville grading company Ryan Central has done a lot of leveling in the past month at the top of the bluff above the Algonquin Bypass interchange site.