During a Monday, May 12 meeting, the Pleasant Prairie Village Board considered and adopted a resolution to reject an excessive bid for the construction of two bridges at a future park and ride facility and to order that the work be completed by the Pleasant Prairie Public Works Department for a lower cost. A Memorandum of Agreement, between the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Village of Pleasant Prairie, was amended in April of this year to separate the “Park and Ride Bridge” project from the balance of the project.

The Village contracted with the engineering firm R.A. Smith to provide plans and a cost estimate for the construction of the two bridges related to the project: one is 50-feet wide by 28-feet long and the other is 10-feet wide by 80-feet long. The engineer’s estimate for the cost to construct the bridges was $384,590. Following receipt of the plans and estimate, the Village advertised for bids for the project and opened bids on April 24. Only one contractor, Concrete Structures, Inc., submitted a bid for the project. The amount submitted by the company was $661,749.

The Pleasant Prairie Public Works Department estimates that they will be able to complete the project for $544,300. Village Administrator Michael Pollocoff explained, “Because our employees have the expertise and experience to complete the work, we believe it is in the best interests of the Village and the public to perform this work internally.” The Department of Transportation was made aware of the option and expressed no opposition to pursuing it.

Work to construct the first park and ride in Kenosha County will begin this June and July and is expected to be complete mid-October, barring any weather related delays. The new park and ride will be located adjacent to the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex just north of Highway 165 and east of I-94. It will include 387 parking spaces and is intended to promote and support carpooling opportunities.