RBC ready to begin CR 5 work

RBC I County commissioners awarded a $5.6 million bid for construction project at two locations on RBC Road 5 and opened bids for an airport runway project, where the lowest bid was more than $8.7 million.
Precision Excavating was awarded the contract to work at two locations on RBC Road 5, one a safety improvement, the other at the intersection of RBC Roads 5 and 24.
RBC Road and Bridge engineer Van Pilaud said the road will be widened between mile markers 10.75 and 11.71 on RBC Road 5, putting eight foot shoulders and 12 foot drive lanes around a sharp, dangerous curve, which has been the site of a fatality. The project will also increase the sight distance on the curve and materials taken to this site will be hauled and used at the intersection project.
Pilaud said the intersection at RBC Roads 5 and 24 would be turned into a “full movement intersection,” with turn and acceleration lanes.
Pilaud said field survey work would start April 16th and start moving material May 1. The projects are expected to be completed by Nov. 1.
Rio Blanco County airport manager Samantha Lopez opened bids for project manager Jeremy McAlister of GDA Engineers to read to commissioners. Nine companies submitted bids, which will now be reviewed and Fiore and Sons of Denver was the low bidder, submitting a bid of $8,753,526 for the runway project at the Meeker Airport.
McAlister said the hope is to start the project this summer but it is contingent upon FAA funding being allocated.
In other news, commissioner Kai Turner reported attending a meeting with the Colorado State Patrol and local stockgrowers regarding trailing livestock on the highway.
“It was a productive meeting and we increased the communication with all the parties,” Turner said, adding stockgrowers would be allowed to continue trailing their livestock.
Commissioner Ken Parsons reported the Federal Mineral Lease District met and approved grants to the towns of Meeker and Rangely for $100,000 each, to be used for capital improvements. Parsons said Meeker will use the funds for a paving project and the town of Rangely is working on “redoing their water treatment plant.”
Commissioner chairman Shawn Bolton was not in attendance.