Saddle Road Update

[Aaron S]

Road & Highway Builders, LLC of Reno, Nevada surprisingly outbid Goodfellow Brothers to reconstruct Saddle Road between m.m 11-19 yesterday. (The CFLHD requested that three sub bids be submitted for this phase. Schedule A, B, C would reconstruct 3.33, 5.70, and 7.46 miles).

http://www.cflhd.gov/procurement/constru...ummary.pdf

[Sandra A.]

I'm not surprised, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Survival in a crappy economic environment. Nevada has suffered greatly: residential housing losses, hotel & gaming revenue is down. Go where the work is and work for less, better than no work at all.

I promised myself I wouldn't take the Saddle road again until it's all redone, hate that road. It makes so much sense to make it a freeway already. So many east Hawaii residents commute to work at west Hawaii hotels & resorts, let alone the rest of us going to Costco or the beaches.

[Aaron S]

quote:

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Originally posted by Sandra A.

I'm not surprised, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Survival in a crappy economic environment. Nevada has suffered greatly: residential housing losses, hotel & gaming revenue is down. Go where the work is and work for less, better than no work at all.

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I can understand your point. However I don't think this contractor has done their homework before they submitted their bid. There is a huge difference in doing construction work in Texas and Nevada versus Hawaii.For starters, the costs are much higher here than over there. On top of that, this is potentially their first construction job in Hawaii. Thus they are probably not up to speed with Hawaii's environmental and employment conditions.

Goodfellow Brothers has done an excellent job thus far reconstructing the roadway between m.m 19-35 (and soon to be open m.m 35-42 segment). I had always thought they would be able to be lowest bidder throughout this improvement project since they had their equipment staged up there already.

However the latest bidding put a torpedo in that thinking. Thus I can only hope that this contractor does a good job on this phase (it will take 2 years) and it doesn't turn out to be Queen K Phase I debacle.

[macuu222]

Goodfellow did such an amazing job on the rebuilt part of saddle road that I was hoping they would get all the sections. I just hope the new low bidder does a good job!

BTW...Anyone know when the section of road next to the military base will be finished? It looks finished (it's paved with white painted lines)...but it's still blocked off.

[Aaron S]

I heard a date around the middle of August. However its uncertain exactly when the roadway will be opened to the public.

[Chuysmom]

That's gonna be awesome. We really like the ride now...except for that nasty little part in Kohala...

The way they've rerouted it is nice too - great scenic route.

Carrie Rojo

http://www.carrierojo.etsy.com


"You and I must make a pact, we must bring salvation back
Where there is love, I'll be there." MJ

[Kahunascott]

quote:

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Originally posted by Aaron S

quote:

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Originally posted by Sandra A.

I'm not surprised, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Survival in a crappy economic environment. Nevada has suffered greatly: residential housing losses, hotel & gaming revenue is down. Go where the work is and work for less, better than no work at all.

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I can understand your point. However I don't think this contractor has done their homework before they submitted their bid. There is a huge difference in doing construction work in Texas and Nevada versus Hawaii.For starters, the costs are much higher here than over there. On top of that, this is potentially their first construction job in Hawaii. Thus they are probably not up to speed with Hawaii's environmental and employment conditions.

Goodfellow Brothers has done an excellent job thus far reconstructing the roadway between m.m 19-35 (and soon to be open m.m 35-42 segment). I had always thought they would be able to be lowest bidder throughout this improvement project since they had their equipment staged up there already.

However the latest bidding put a torpedo in that thinking. Thus I can only hope that this contractor does a good job on this phase (it will take 2 years) and it doesn't turn out to be Queen K Phase I debacle.

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I don’t totally agree with some of your points. Civil construction is civil construction.
I’ve been involved in this type of construction for 25 years and in more States then I care to remember. We moved from State to State and adapted quite well. Specifically I was told on two occasions that my company would go bust before the end of the project because we weren’t local and don’t know the way it’s done there. One was in Washington DC and the other in the Florida Keys. Both of these project were completed early and under budget.
As far as the environmental issues I think most of them have been resolved and I’m sure they are aware of the BMP manual that in some form exists in most States. As long as they work in the limits of construction they will do ok.
What is unique in Hawaii is the delay and cost with regards to shipping material and equipment parts. As far as material goes all of the materials used on road construction are manufactured right here on the BI including the asphalt. If they are well stocked on parts they should be ok.
Remember Goodfellow Brothers is a mainland contractor and they had to execute their first project in Hawaii, so it is done. Don’t get me wrong they will face some challenges.
I think Goodfellow got greedy and got burnt by the lower bidder. That’s what is great about competitive bidding. Goodfellows has recently low balled a few projects on the BI and won the bids.
IMHO they were waiting for this next section of roadway. You know keep your staff and equipment operating a hair above cost. I wonder what they are going to do now? They have a huge quarry and asphalt plant in PTA. I would guess that without this section of roadway they might have to dismantle the plant and move on before the last section of highway goes out to bid.


If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it cost when it’s free

[Aaron S]

Goodfellow Brothers is a mainland based contractor.However they've been operating in Hawaii since the 1970's. As far as I understand the lowest bidder for the m.m 11-19 phase is wet behind the ears as far doing any construction work here in Hawaii. Their primary bases of operation are in Texas and Nevada.

I would bet you my yearly salary that there is huge differences doing civil construction here versus on the mainland. There is a lot of challenges doing any construction work here versus California for example.

As far as the PTA Quarry site, I believe the Department of the Army developed the site, not Goodfellow Brothers. Even if GBI built the site it is unlikely they'd allow them to shut down the facility. It has saved taxpayers millions of dollars and has avoided damaging the existing roadways from being damaged from heavy trucks.


It is my understanding the winning bidder has to start the project on October 1st and has 2 years to complete this project. If Road & Highway Builders, LLC can meet those parameters then I'll eat my words in two years.

[Kahunascott]

quote:

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Originally posted by Aaron S

Goodfellow Brothers is a mainland based contractor.However they've been operating in Hawaii since the 1970's. As far as I understand the lowest bidder for the m.m 11-19 phase is wet behind the ears as far doing any construction work here in Hawaii. Their primary bases of operation are in Texas and Nevada.

I would bet you my yearly salary that there is huge differences doing civil construction here versus on the mainland. There is a lot of challenges doing any construction work here versus California for example.

As far as the PTA Quarry site, I believe the Department of the Army developed the site, not Goodfellow Brothers. Even if GBI built the site it is unlikely they'd allow them to shut down the facility. It has saved taxpayers millions of dollars and has avoided damaging the existing roadways from being damaged from heavy trucks.


It is my understanding the winning bidder has to start the project on October 1st and has 2 years to complete this project. If Road & Highway Builders, LLC can meet those parameters then I'll eat my words in two years.

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Aaron you can email me in private and I’ll tell you where you can send that years salary check to.[]
I really don’t see a HUGE difference. My post was clear that outside shipping material and equipment parts it’s no different then many places I’ve worked on the mainland. Some locations as I pointed out like DC and the Keys have a uniqueness to them as well as Hawaii. Oh, I left out NYC.
This is only my opinion but I have 25 years in construction on the mainland and 4 years here and believe me this ain’t OZ.
As a matter of fact there are many parts of my projects here that I find much easier then the mainland.
As far as the PTA site I was referring to dismantling the asphalt plant not closing the quarry.
We also crush at that facility and I agree that the quarry will stay open. I just hope them the best to get er done.


If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it cost when it’s free

[Sandra A.]

I'll just be happy when the Saddle is one nice safe road so I can use it once in a while. Meanwhile, I still enjoy the beauty of the Hamakua Coast []