91ÊÓƵ

The first of two $50 million to $60 million contracts for the Newberg-Dundee Bypass project will open to bidding on June 5, an Oregon Department of Transportation official said this week.

The $254 million phased project is being broken up into separate, low-bid contracts to provide opportunities for smaller, local contractors, ODOT spokesman Lou Torres said. The strategy has worked well so far, he added, but presents management challenges – particularly in regard to staging.

“Our approach is to give local contractors an opportunity to bid on major projects,” he said. “You have to manage multiple contractors on a project, but so far, so good.”

Work for the first contract is expected to begin within 30 days on the western end of the bypass near Dundee and involve construction of six bridges connecting the bypass to Oregon Route 99W, Torres said. The second contract, which will open to bidding in August, is for work on the western end of the bypass near Newberg.

LaDuke Construction of Talent has been working on the project’s $8 million first phase, which includes excavation work, bridge construction and prep for the next two contracts, Torres said.

The 11-mile, four-lane highway, which will have 11 bridges, is slated for completion in 2017.