Burnsville Firm Wins $58.1 Million Bid for the St. Croix River Crossing Project

One company's recent loss has been a Burnsville contractor's gain. 

The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently awarded the Minnesota 36 approach work for the St. Croix River Crossing project to Ames Construction in spite of the fact that the Burnsville company's bid was $6 million higher than its competitor, C.S. McCrossan.

Ames was named contractor-of-choice after the agency's Office of Civil Rights rejected C.S. McCrossan’s $52.3 million bid on the grounds that the company did not make good faith efforts to obtain the participation of disadvantaged businesses. So far, C.S. McCrossan has chosen to fight the decision. According to a report in the Pioneer Press, the company has filed an appeal with the Minnesota Department of Administration and has sought the aid of the governor's office as well.

Nevertheless, officials have said that Ames Construction and partner, Lunda Construction, will begin the project as planned in the coming weeks. 

All told, the revamp includes a four-lane bridge over the river, new approaches on both banks, and the transformation of the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge to a bike and pedestrian facility. Cost estimates range from $580 million to $676 million, to be split between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Ames' piece should be complete by fall 2014.