Hollister
– The construction contract for the long-delayed Highway 25
bypass project went out to bid on Tuesday.
Hollister – The construction contract for the long-delayed Highway 25 bypass project went out to bid on Tuesday.
County officials said they plan to break ground on the project – which has been in the works for more than a decade – in early May. The bypass is scheduled to open by the end of 2008.
“We’ve cleared all the hurdles we need to,” said Lisa Rheinheimer, executive director of the San Benito County Council of Governments. “We’re ready to go.”
When completed, the bypass will reroute highway traffic off San Benito Street onto a new road east of McCray Street. Downtown business owners have said they’re excited about the project, because it will allow the city to take over San Benito Street – currently controlled by the California Department of Transportation – and make the downtown area more pedestrian-friendly.
Jerry Muenzer, who chairs the Hollister Downtown Association’s economic restructuring committee, said the association is updating its strategy plan so that businesses will be ready when the bypass opens.
Muenzer, who owns Muenzer’s Cyclery and Sports Center, said that although the bypass has been a long time coming, he isn’t surprised by the delays.
“Everything takes time, and anything the government does takes twice as long,” he said.
Recent delays have included an unexpected $15 million shortfall – which forced the city and county to cough up more money – and lengthy litigation with landowners, some of whom argued they weren’t getting enough money. A few landowners continue to contest the county’s claim to their land, but COG’s transportation planning manager, Mary Dinkuhn, said ongoing litigation will not delay construction. The county took possession of the land in July, she said.
The project’s costs won’t be finalized until the county sees the bids, but Dinkuhn estimated that construction will cost $26 million, bringing the total project cost to around $45 million. That includes an estimated $13.5 million for land acquisition and $5.5 million for other expenses.
The bypass will be funded by a combination of federal, state and local dollars, but Dinkuhn said most of the money will come from Hollister and San Benito County’s traffic impact fees, as well as the Measure A sales tax.
Aptos lawyer Dennis Kehoe represents Janet Roberts, one of the landowners still in litigation. Kehoe predicted that the bids will be much more expensive than expected, bolstering his client’s claim that the county doesn’t have the money to finish the bypass.
“This project right now is way over budget,” he said. “I suspect (construction costs are) going to be much higher than anticipated.”
Dinkuhn said she’s already heard from a few companies that are interested in working on the project. Bids are due by April 11, and a contract will be awarded by April 26, she said. Dinkuhn also hopes to hold a public “open house” in late April to help locals understand the bypass’ impact.
Dinkuhn said construction is scheduled to finish in August of 2008. After the final clean-up and paperwork, the bypass is scheduled to open in December of that year.
Mayor Brad Pike, who sits on COG’s board of directors, said the bypass will be a boon to the city’s economy.
“Let’s get it done,” he said.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
