The Cities Blog

MnDOT releases names of St. Croix bridge project bidders

Here is MnDOT's list of bidders for the $676 million span to be built between St. Joseph in Wisconsin and Oak Park Heights in Minnesota. Note that URS Corp submitted bids - that's the same firm that's attracted controversy among state lawmakers and Gov. Dayton for its bid for engineering work on the proposed Southwest LRT project.

The bids are for two contracts: Final design of the new bridge, and independent peer review of the final design.

Bridge Design:

Figg Bridge Engineers, Inc.

HDR Engineering, Inc.

Parsons Transportation Group, Inc.

TY Lin International

URS Corporation

Bridge Design Peer Review:

CH2M Hill, Inc.

HNTB Corporation

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.

Parsons Transportation Group, Inc.

TY Lin International

URS Corporation

The bridge will be built using a design-bid-build process, meaning the design will be complete before another request for proposals goes out for builders. When construction on the new bridge is complete, the existing Stillwater Lift Bridge will be converted to a pedestrian/bike trail.

MnDOT says the proposals will be judged using a quality-based process. Officials say cost is not part of the selection. That is negotiated after the design firm is selected.

A panel composed of MnDOT and WisDOT representatives will look at firms' experience, personnel, quality management and project understanding as they award the contracts. MnDOT says it expects the contracts to be awarded by or before the end of the month.