Bidding opened Feb. 12 for Wilton’s planned $1.6 million replacement of the historic King Brook Bridge, with proposals due by March 20.
The town has hired HEB Engineers, Inc. of North Conway to receive and review bids and provide cost estimates before forwarding recommendations to town officials. As of this week, no bids had been submitted, according to Town Administrator Nick Germain.
Wilton secured an 80% reimbursement grant through the State Bridge Aid Program to cover the bulk of the project cost. Germain said the town will use its Bridge Capital Reserve Fund, or CRF, to cover the full expense until reimbursed by the state. The remaining 20% will also be paid from the CRF, and the project will not require additional taxpayer funding.
He said the bidding process is rigorous with little room for deficiencies. Germain said that after the bidding window closes, HEB will help the town select the best proposal. “HEB will identify which bid best meets the town’s needs.” If no deficiencies are found, the town will award to the lowest bidder.
The King Brook Bridge is a historic stone arch bridge that Wilton doesn’t have the means to maintain in its current state. Germain said replacing the bridge has been on the town’s agenda since before he took office in 2021.
“It has been on the list for a long time. There has been a hold-up because of the state decision process as well as COVID,” he said.
A precast concrete structure featuring a decorative stone veneer will replace the existing bridge. The town will incorporate salvaged stone from the historic bridge and an accompanying plaque into a monument memorializing the structure on Carnival Hill.
Construction is scheduled to begin May 1 with an expected Dec. 1 completion date. HEB Engineers will update the town as the project reaches major milestones.
A pre-bid conference at the bridge site on King Brook Road is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m.