(STURGIS) – The roundabout project scheduled to be installed on East Lafayette Street in Sturgis is moving forward.

During a recent meeting, the Sturgis City Commission heard an update on the project from City Engineer Barry Cox. The original bids that the City received in May were just over $923,000, which was 62 percent higher than the engineer’s estimate. The City rejected the bids and chose to rebid the project.

As part of the re-bid, the project construction start date was moved out to May 1, 2023. This was done to help solicit more bids and better pricing.

Cox says the City received more bids this time around. ...... {LISTEN}.

The Michigan Department of Transportation requires communities to either reject or accept bids which are 10 percent or higher above the engineer’s estimate before awarding the project and provide reasoning for accepting the project. MDOT officials say they’ve seen multiple projects which are anywhere from 20 to 30 percent above project estimates.

Cox says there isn’t time to re-bid the project with additional modifications, without the possibility of losing a Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant of just over $488,000 that would go towards the roundabout project.

The City Commission approved the bid recommendation by a vote of 7-1, with Commissioner Marvin Smith casting the lone No vote.