I-39 Constructors joint-venture once again low bidder on highway work

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Two projects along Interstate 39/90 appear likely to fetch contractors nearly $150 million, according to preliminary results from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s July bid letting, which called for yet more work related to the factory Foxconn is building in Racine County.

I-39 Constructors, a joint venture formed by Hoffman Construction and Rock Road Companies, was the low bidder for the reconstruction of I-39/90’s interchange with Interstate 43 in Beloit. The company submitted a low bid of $114.2 million for the project, making it one of the largest contracts the department has let this year.

WisDOT officials had previously estimated the project would cost $100 million or greater. Four other firms bid on the project. The second-lowest offer came from Mashuda Contractors and was for $123.4, nearly $9 million more than what I-39 Constructors had bid. Zenith Tech offered to do the project for $123.9 million, Lunda Construction for $130.5 million and Walsh Construction for $143 million.

Along with meeting other requirements, the lead contractors on the project are under an obligation to hire certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms for 8% of the work on the interchange, which stands on American Indian tribal land.

Separately, Hoffman Construction by itself out bid three rivals for a $31.3 million contract to rebuild a section of I-39/90 between Dane County Highway AB and the U.S. Highway 12/18 interchange. That bid came in slightly higher than the department’s estimate of between $25 million and $30 million. Similar to the I-43 interchange job, this project includes a 10% DBE goal and will likewise touch on tribal land.

Hoffman’s bid was lower than offers from Zignego Company, which said it would do the work for $90,000 more than Hoffman; Rock Road Companies, which bid $31.5 million; Michels Corp., which bid $32.7 million; and Mashuda Contractors, which bid $34.2 million.

WisDOT’s July letting also sought bidders for more than $20 million worth of work near Foxconn Technology Group’s factory complex in Racine County.

James Peterson and Sons beat out three rivals with a $14.7 million low bid for a job near the county’s Wisconn Valley Way. Also competing for the work were Zignego Company, which offered to do it for $15.1 million; Michels Corp., which bid $16 million; and Super Western, which bid $17.4 million.

Those bids came in higher than WisDOT’s estimate, which held that the work could be done for less than $10 million.

Beyond that, Super Western submitted a low bid of $6.2 million for a project along Braun Road near the Foxconn site. That beat out bids from Michels Corp., which offered to do the work for $6.8 million; Edgerton Contractors, which bid $7.3 million; and James Petersen and Sons, which bid $7.34 million. Follow @natebeck9