CRA selects undergrounding contractor

BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com

BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has selected the JM Underground construction company for its next phase of utility line undergrounding.

JM Underground will install the utility cables, conduits, transformers and switching devices for the utility line undergrounding scheduled along Third Street South, Fourth Street South, Fifth Street South and Bay Drive South.

At the recommendation of City Attorney Ricinda Perry, Public Works Director Tom Woodard and Police Chief John Cosby, the CRA members selected JM Underground on Feb. 1 over the Hypower construction company that also bid on the project.

JM Underground owner Juan Martinez previously led the Wilco construction company’s undergrounding projects on Bridge Street and along Gulf Drive South. JM Underground bid $436,995 for the project. Hypower bid $1.33 million.

Utility Consultants of Florida owner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Porter will serve as the CRA’s contracted project manager for a previously estimated cost of $37,000. The estimated project costs will also include $195,853 for pole removals, line removals and other services provided by Florida Power and

Light, $59,000 for services provided by Spectrum and $75,000 for services provided Verizon.

The CRA members previously budgeted $1 million for this phase of the CRA’s ongoing undergrounding efforts. During Wednesday’s meeting, Perry said there may be enough remaining funds to also underground the utility lines along First Street North.

The CRA members directed Perry to negotiate a contract with JM Underground to be presented at the next CRA meeting.

Proponents say that underground utility lines are better protected from wind and storm damage and that the removal of the aboveground utility lines and poles enhances the visual aesthetics of the areas where undergrounding has taken place.