News photo by Josh Jambor Pictured is a section of aging and uneven sidewalk on 2nd Avenue between East Campbell Street and East Baldwin Street in Alpena.

ALPENA – The Alpena Municipal Council considered a contract for the city concrete program for this year.

Bedrock Contracting & Excavating submitted a bid for service for $144,165, which was the sole bid received for the sidewalk and curb repair program across Alpena.

Council was expected to vote on the contract at its meeting Monday night.

In a memo in the council’s meeting packet, City Engineer Steve Shultz recommended Bedrock to do the work, Bids for the program were opened in March after requests for proposals were sent to seven firms and posted online. Only Bedrock submitted a proposal.

“Upon reviewing the bids, the unit prices were found to be significantly higher than the previous years,” Shultz said. “We asked a representative from Bedrock Contracting & Excavating to review and possibly adjust his pricing.”

Shultz detailed the factors behind the increase following discussions with the contractor.

“In a conversation with Travis O’Connor from Bedrock, he explained that increased fuel and material prices were part of the reason for the increase,” Shultz stated. “Also, Bedrock has held the concrete contract since 2013 and throughout that time the projects have become fewer, and worksites have become shorter in length.”

“It is mainly a patching program now where the contractor must mobilize to many different sites to complete 10′ and 15′ sections of sidewalk,” Shultz added. “In order to make fiscal sense, Bedrock bid the project accordingly.”

Despite the higher costs, Shultz noted that Bedrock’s pricing remained competitive.

“It should be noted that when the project was last bid in 2024, the prices received from another bidder were higher than Bedrock’s prices for this current bid,” Shultz said. “Furthermore, the concrete prices we see in our street construction projects, depending on the quantities, are sometimes similar to those prices in this bid.”

This program targets sidewalks and curb repairs throughout Alpena, a critical component of maintaining pedestrian safety and accessibility in a city with many aging sidewalks. Property owners whose sidewalks are replaced under the program typically cover 60% of the cost for a 4-inch replacement sidewalk. Shultz recommended adjusting the resident rate to $7.44 per square foot – an increase of $2.90 from the 2025 rate.

“The concrete program is primarily used to patch areas where the concrete is missing after utility dig-ups,” Shultz explained.

The single-bid result and price adjustments mirror broader challenges faced by small municipalities in Northeast Michigan. Contractor availability remains limited, and volatile material and fuel costs – exacerbated by regional weather events and supply chain issues – continue to impact public works projects.

This project fits into the city’s larger infrastructure efforts, including recent Taylor Street upgrades and park improvements at sites like Bay View Park. With the summer tourism season underway – highlighted by the ongoing Alpena 250 celebration – safe, walkable streets and sidewalks are essential for residents and visitors alike.

This year’s project will prioritize repairs in high-traffic residential and downtown areas. Residents seeking information about the program or potential sidewalk replacements are encouraged to contact the Engineering Department.