All five bids submitted for the demolition and replacement of the Howard Danville Road Bridge came in under the Knox County engineer’s estimate of $1.47 million, according to results presented during the Knox County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 8.
“I think many people understand that we open up all the bids and the engineer will check these for the validity and all the things that have been required as a contractor,” Commissioner Bill Pursel said during the meeting, which was recorded and posted on YouTube.
According to the project description included in the commissioners’ May 8 meeting agenda, the work involves removing an existing steel bridge and constructing a new prestressed concrete box beam bridge. The bridge is located on Pleasant Valley Road (Township Road 362) in Clinton Township and serves as a key connection for both residential and agricultural traffic in the area.
Bids for the project ranged from $718,947 to $993,964. Menuez & Son of Millersburg, Ohio, submitted the lowest bid at $718,947. The next lowest bid came from Crawford Construction Co. of Galion at $889,050, followed by McConnell Contracting Inc. of West Lafayette with a bid of $905,504. Adena Corp. of Mansfield submitted a bid of $934,465, while Buds Inc. of Nashport submitted the highest bid at $993,964.
Knox County Engineer Cameron Keaton noted in his 2024 annual report that the project is funded primarily through the state’s Local Bridge Replacement Program (LBR), which will cover 95% of the total cost. The remaining 5% will be paid through local sources.
Now that the bids have been opened, the engineer’s office will conduct a thorough review of each one to ensure all documentation, bonding, and qualifications meet the project requirements. Once the review is complete, the contract will be awarded to the most responsible and responsive bidder.
If all goes as planned, construction is expected to begin later this year. The new bridge will improve safety and reliability for drivers and farmers who rely on the route for daily transportation and seasonal hauling.
