CHARLESTON — The state Division of Highways has awarded a nearly $1 million contract to renovate the Philippi Bypass Bridge to a construction firm from Cleveland, Ohio.

Perk Company Inc. was awarded the contract for $993,881.23 to rebuild the approach slabs at each end of the bridge, seal the existing concrete bridge deck, and apply a concrete protective coating to the bridge barriers.

The Philippi Bypass Bridge carries the US 250 Bypass across the Tygart Valley River and CSX Railroad in Philippi. The bridge was built in 2001 and carries an estimated 7,000 vehicles a day.

“This type of work is considered preventative maintenance and will help to preserve the bridge in its current state for a longer period of time, which will increase its expected lifespan and protect the initial investment that taxpayers originally made in getting the bridge built,” said Tracy Brown, P.E., WVDOH State Bridge Engineer.

When the Division of Highways has a project that is determined to be best constructed by a contractor, it is processed through the bid letting system. A letting is a scheduled opportunity for contractors to review and bid on several construction projects at one time.

Lettings are held either once or twice per month and conducted through the Bid Express System online at www.bidx.com and handled through the Contract Administration Division. Contractors need to subscribe to Bid Express before bids can be accepted on any project.

Factors considered before awarding a bid include whether a bid falls above or below the WVDOH Engineer’s Estimate and by what percentage. In cases where a bid is above the Engineer’s Estimate, WVDOH must consider the project need, repercussions of not awarding the project, additional funding sources, and whether sufficient reasons exist for the differences in estimates.

Most projects are reviewed, analyzed, and awarded within a week of the bid letting, but the process can take longer.