The cost of the multi-million-dollar Mono Way widening project in Sonora remains higher than originally expected despite a second round of bids by the city.

Three contractors submitted proposals this month for the project, which calls for widening the stretch of Mono Way from Greenley Road to Fir Drive to ease traffic, as well as building a retaining wall, replacing a 36-inch culvert and earthwork.

The lowest bid came from Modesto-based George Reed Inc. at $3.9 million, with Sierra Mountain Construction of Sonora ($4.35 million) and McGuire and Hester of Oakland ($4.9 million) also submitting bids.

The last round of bids ranged from $3.4 million to $4.6 million, and were thrown out because they exceeded the initial $2.7 million project estimate. The Sonora City Council opted to re-advertise in December.

However, Sonora City Engineer Gerard Fuccillo said the latest round of bids also included alternative proposals lowering costs on a retaining wall and culvert replacement that are part of the widening. Under one, a retaining wall that will stretch from Roselyn Lane to Fir Drive would have a typical concrete face instead of a decorative rock facade.

For the full story see today's Union Democrat.

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Mono widening still too costly

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Downtown Ellicott City will soon see more pedestrian, parking and stormwater improvements as the county kicks off a series of new public works projects next month, County Executive Ken Ulman announced Wednesday.

The county plans to connect Ellicott City's downtown shops and restaurants with the circuit court house by way of a staircase that will work its way up a hill leading away from Main Street.

Workers will build a retaining wall containing a specially designed staircase adjacent to parking lot E, which is located behind Ellicott Mills Brewing Co. on Main Street, county officials said. The court house's parking lot is open for visitors to the historic district to use on evenings and weekends, and for special events.

At the edge of Lot E, the county plans to build a new crosswalk across Main Street linking Lot E to businesses across the street.

By better connecting the court house area and Main Street, we will open up new areas and make this historic community more walkable and more functional, Ulman said in a statement. This attractive staircase and better signs will direct parkers and pedestrians to convenient areas nearby they may not have thought about using.

Lot E's surface will also be reconstructed to incorporate stormwater-capturing bioretention areas and to plant native trees and shrubs, officials said.

The retaining wall, staircase and lot resurfacing will cost $1.5 million, county officials said.

The project comes a few months after Howard County planning officials held a series of three workshops designed to give Ellicott City residents an opportunity to offer input on improvements they would like to see to the historic district. Workshop attendees cited pedestrian safety, parking and stormwater management as major concerns.

County officials said they are looking at the feasibility of adding extra crosswalks along Main Street.

Other projects slated to begin soon in downtown Ellicott City include repairs to a stone wall in parking lot C that collapsed after a train derailment in August 2012 that claimed the lives of two local young women. Officials said the repairs were expected to begin in April.

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Ulman announces plans for staircase connecting downtown Ellicott City and court house

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