Construction of the new Arrowhead Pier will get underway this spring after the Superior City Council approved two bids for the project Tuesday night.
RJS Construction of Superior was awarded the bid for dredging and installation of coated steel pipes to support the pier at a cost of $274,000. Reconstruction of pier and boat launch was awarded to MZ Construction of Linden, Wis., for a low bid price of $357,000.
In July, three bids for the project came in significantly higher than the city's budget for the project. After two months of negotiations and project modifications, the cost remained outside of the city's reach. The low bid placed the cost of the project at $915,000, significantly more than the city budgeted for the project, significantly more than the $616,000 the city had allocation for the project with the help of grants from the state.
Parks and Recreation Administrator Mary Morgan worked with AMI Engineers of Duluth, the consultant for the project, restructured the bids to address waterborne and land elements of the project in an effort to bring those costs in line with the city's budget for the project.
Morgan said even with reduced costs for pier construction that the budget remains tight.
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The city is going to have to do the work to demolish the boat launch and buy some items outright to complete the project, which includes the improvements to the surrounding area, she said.
Demolition of the former Arrowhead Pier, a remnant of the drawbridge built between Duluth and Superior in the 1920s, took place late last summer. For more than 20 years, a section of the bridge in Superior served as a popular fishing spot along the St. Louis River.
Mayor Dave Ross said Morgan did a masterful job of bringing the costs in line with the city's budget.
"She's a magician," Councilor Ed Anderson said.
