Lowest bid for U.S. 24 job is $49.5M

10/19/2006

LIMA, Ohio - An Archbold, Ohio, contractor is the apparent low bidder to widen U.S. 24 from two lanes to four between Napoleon and Defiance, the Ohio Department of Transportation said yesterday.

Pending approval of bidding documents, Miller Brothers Construction will receive the contract for $49.5 million after a bid opening yesterday in Columbus.

The project will include adding westbound lanes within the state right-of-way along U.S. 24; rebuilding portions of the two-lane highway built during the 1960s; building an interchange at State Rt. 281; building an overpass for Carpenter Road over U.S. 24, and rehabilitating the Route 281 bridge over the Maumee River.

Construction of additional U.S. 24 lanes on the west side of Defiance began this year.

ODOT expects to award contracts for a new four-lane U.S. 24 in Paulding and western Defiance counties next spring, and for a new U.S. 24 between Napoleon and Waterville in 2008.