Work on Sylva's sidewalk to start soon, mayor says

By Rose Hooper

Apparent low bidder for the Sylva sidewalk extension project was Buncombe Construction Co. with a bid of $213,914.

When bids were opened in a special town meeting earlier this month, other submissions included Buchanan and Sons at $265,184, WNC Paving with $298,471 and APAC with $442,590.

While the low bid was accepted, the contract will not be awarded until all bid documents are reviewed by engineers from Civil Design Concepts of Asheville, according to Sylva town clerk Tommy Thompson, who said money for the project is in the current fiscal year budget.

The 1.8-mile sidewalk will extend along N.C. 107 from Kel-Save drug store to the State Employees Credit Union at the N.C. 116 (Webster Road) intersection.

The sidewalk will be built on the Wal-Mart side of the highway on Department on Transportation right-of-way, Thompson said. DOT is contributing $95,000 to the project.

The sidewalk project hit several snags over right of way issues at Video Update and Roberson Supply, but those have been resolved, said Mayor Brenda Oliver. Since earth will be excavated near Video Update, a retaining wall will be built there. At Roberson Supply, where a portion of the sidewalk does not fall within DOT right of way, lines will be striped to designate the sidewalk.

With a notice to proceed in hand, construction could begin shortly, Oliver said.

Back to Archive: 10/24/02.