By Mike Finney

DOVER — Residents along North Bradford Street can rejoice.

Not only will the road and the adjacent sidewalks be redone by December, but the historic trees that line the road will be spared from the axes and chainsaws.

Members of the city’s Legislative, Finance and Administration Committee voted unanimously to award the contract for the street project to Wilmington-based Sam’s Construction, LLC, for its bid of $1,103,390.70 at its meeting Tuesday night.

The plan advances to the Dover City Council meeting April 22 for final approval.

The project is aimed to rehabilitate North Bradford Street from a point south of Mary Street — adjacent to a property owned by Delaware State University — to Walker Road.

The length of the project is about six-tenths of a mile and expected to begin in June and take 180 calendar days to complete.

George and Lynch, Inc., of Dover, bid $2,228,200.77 for the project, after being awarded a 3% reduction due to local vendor preference.

However, that remained well over Sam’s Construction’s bid.

At-large councilman Andre Boggerty asked Jason Lyon, director of Water and Wastewater/Engineering Services for the city, about the disparity in bids.

“This bid is half of the second bid and we kind of take issue with why (is there) such a big delta between the bids?”, he said. “It’s not a few hundred dollars. It’s a whole million-dollars difference.”

Mr. Lyon responded to the city councilman’s concerns. The city had $1,157,823.55 budgeted for the project.

“We’ve (used) Sam’s Construction numerous times in the past for numerous programs,” he said. “Their work has been more than adequate. They’ve been a good contractor. I’m not aware of any change orders that have come through of any significant magnitude.

“With regards to why the price differential is so high, we reached out to Sam’s to make sure they understood the bid, because there is some uniqueness to it, and they are understanding what’s going on.”

Mr. Lyon added that these kinds of disparities in bids are taking place not just locally, but nationwide, due to money that is available from the bipartisan infrastructure plan.

“Contractors are taking opportunities for these projects at a high number,” he said.

Second District Councilman Brian Lewis asked why the city’s Public Works department would not be able to perform the construction.

“The part of this project that is unique is that they’re utilizing a different material for sidewalks and paths,” said Mr. Lyon, referring to Flexi-Pave, which will help save the more than 60 mature trees. “Typically, what we do is we cut out the concrete sidewalk, and if we have a tree nearby that’s popping up the roots, then we cut the tree down.

“With this project, we looked for alternatives not to down the trees. So we’re utilizing a material that’s kind of impervious. I liken it to a kinetic sand.

“This project includes not only the sidewalks being improved, the curbing improved, but a mill and overlay for the streets — (the city doesn’t) have that equipment.”

Due to the current conditions of North Bradford Street, multiple public outreach meetings were conducted, and third-party recommendations were gathered to provide a plan that would limit the removal of street trees.

Additionally, the project must meet the Americans with Disabilities Act sidewalk condition requirements.

Flexi-Pave — or a similar brand — can be installed around tree roots and formed into a smooth walking surface. The material has a five-year warranty and will allow the trees to survive.

Three years ago, it was determined by the Delaware Forest Service that 13 trees in the area needed to be removed due to their deteriorating health, while 62 should be preserved.

Dover’s tree and sidewalk issues have deep roots of their own, as State Street and other roads are also facing similar walkway-buckling problems.

“We’re sitting in a tough spot,” Mr. Lyon said. “We’re required by federal law that, when we repave a road, we have to bring everything up to ADA standards. Unfortunately, those trees are not.

“They were planted without even knowing that all this stuff would happen, obviously. Sometimes, you pay for these things generations afterwards.”