Dexter Construction is in line to get the contract for the Cogswell Interchange project, submitting the lowest bid for the work at more than $95 million.
Halifax first issued a request for qualifications for the project in 2018, outlining the scope of work for the successful bidder. That includes tearing down the existing labyrinth of concrete overpasses at the entrance to downtown Halifax, excavation and underground servicing and construction of the new road network, all while managing traffic around the site.
The result of that request in 2018 was a shortlist of three contractors the municipality deemed qualified to do the work: Miller Paving, EllisDon, and Dexter Construction.
In January, the municipality invited the three contractors to bid, and on Wednesday, it posted two bids. According to the provincial tender site, Dexter bid $91,732,000 and Miller Paving bid $99,685,077. Those numbers do not include HST.
Municipal spokesperson Laura Wright said in an email Thursday that EllisDon did not submit a bid.
With HST included — HRM effectively pays 4.286% — Dexter’s total would be $95,663,633.50. In the 2021-2022 capital budget, HRM lists the total project cost for Cogswell at $95 million.
There’s $13.4 million worth of work budgeted for this fiscal year, including demolition and the creation of temporary roads to bypass the site.
According to HRM’s Cogswell webpage, that work will begin in the fall.