The Clear Lake City Council awarded a contract Monday night for the much-discussed South Shore Drive Reconstruction Improvement Project.  
    A bid letting was held July 15 at the Iowa Department of Transportation office in Ames.  Although the city had not received formal notice from the DOT prior to its Monday meeting, Project Engineer Rich Brumm, of WHKS & Co., told the Council Heartland Asphalt, of Mason City, was the low bidder for the project.
    Contingent upon receiving the itemized bid from the DOT, the Council unanimously awarded the $1,234,443 contract to Heartland Asphalt.    Heartland was the lowest of three bidders for the work.
    The bid came in below the engineer’s estimate for the work, which was $1,540,000 for construction only, and $1,840,000 including engineering costs.  Heartland’s bid was for construction only.
    The reconstruction of South Shore Drive will occur between Main Avenue and 12th Avenue South.  At the 4th Avenue South intersection the road will become one-way, traveling south, to 12th Avenue South, where it resumes two-way traffic.
    An official from Heartland Asphalt said Yohn Companies will be the subcontractor doing the underground work this fall for the project.  Underground infrastructure work includes water and sewer line replacement.   The plan is for rock to be placed over the work areas by year-end.  Complete pavement removal and paving would take place in late spring 2009, with completion prior to the July 4 holiday activities in Clear Lake.
    The City Council is expected to complete the contract and bonds for the project at its Aug. 4 meeting.