Chillicothe – Dial Construction Company of Stockdale has placed the lowest bid for Phase 1A of the Chesapeake Bypass, the Ohio Department of Transportation reported yesterday.

Thursday, March 07, 2002

Chillicothe – Dial Construction Company of Stockdale has placed the lowest bid for Phase 1A of the Chesapeake Bypass, the Ohio Department of Transportation reported yesterday.

Bids to construct a two-lane highway were opened yesterday by the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Office of Contracts.

Phase 1A of the bypass calls for the construction of two lanes of the proposed four-lane highway from the 31st Street/East Huntington, W.Va. Bridge at state Route 607, just west of Proctorville, to state Route 775 and Irene Road.

"Although the contract has yet to be awarded officially, this is a significant step in the process, and we are looking forward to the start of this milestone project for Lawrence County and the Chesapeake-Proctorville area," Hagen said.

The total Chesapeake Bypass project includes the construction of a four-lane, divided highway from state Route 527 approximately 9 miles east to the existing state Route 7, just south of Athalia. It will also include the construction of three interchanges: one at state Route 527 and Shafer Town Road in the west; one at state Route 607/775 in the central portion; and one at state Route 243, via Kinley Avenue in the east.

Upon completion of Phase 1A, the department anticipates to begin construction of Phase 1B of the bypass, extending state Route 7 from Irene Road to just beyond Fairland East Elementary. This portion of the project is scheduled to sell in the spring of 2003 and take up to two construction seasons to complete. Phases 2 and 3 will complete the remainder of the bypass project, and these are currently in the planning process. The entire bypass project is currently estimated at $155 million.

"As construction of Phase 1A begins this year, we will continue to aggressively pursue the construction of the full build alternative for the bypass," Hagen added. "It is important that we keep this project moving forward for the residents and motorists traveling through this increasingly busy area of southern Ohio."

For Phase 1A, the department’s Office of Contracts received four bids for the estimated $6.78 million project, and as the low bidder, Dial Construction’s bid was approximately $6,449,850.

Following an award of the contract and various preconstruction meetings to outline the stages of the project, construction of Phase 1A should begin by early summer. It is expected to be completed in one construction season.