A newspaper error cost the state $1.76 million and delayed the final phase of the Gordo Bypass project. Now, lawmakers are considering ways to update the bidding process for state contracts.
State law requires the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to place an ad in a printed newspaper twice when letting bids. However, an error was made in May, costing taxpayers.
"ALDOT had already opened bids before learning of the oversight, which revealed the contractors' bids," ALDOT stated. "As a result, the project had to be rebid, ultimately costing the state an additional $1.76 million."
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) serves on the Joint Transportation Committee. He believes it was likely a publisher error. He said the Pickens County Herald published the ad online but it didn't run in print the required amount of time prior to the bid process being over. When the bid process was over, all of the submitted bids were made public. However, the state had to redo the entire bid process after they realized the ad did not run for the required amount of time.
Elliott believes the error cost more than $1.76 million. He said the legislature needs to consider changes.
"When you start factoring in all the overhead and the construction engineering and inspection and everything else, this is probably a $2 million oops by the time it's over with," he explained.
State Rep. Alan Baker (R-Brewton), also on the Joint Transportation Committee, said discussions of changing the process have come up in the past.
"The newspapers are a little bit more of a dinosaur and slowly going away," Baker told 1819 News. "So, that's something that we'll need to take a stronger look at."
Elliott said that newspapers and the Alabama Press Association will push back because they depend on advertising dollars to survive.
"I will tell you how much it costs the state to place these ads and that is enough that those newspapers will fight to the death to keep this law from changing," said Elliott. "They will fight tooth and nail because it is the lifeblood of those papers and I hate it; I really do."
The Baldwin County lawmaker said it is more important to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars than keep newspapers alive.
"It's like the old buggy whip argument," Elliott said. "I'm sure the last person that made a buggy whip made a fine one, but we just don't use buggy whips anymore. So, things are changing."
"It's just not the way people consume information anymore," he added. "It's not the way people do business anymore and to have that be the thing that has caused this to be rebid and cost taxpayers probably $2 million really ought to exemplify why we need to update."
As part of Rebuild Alabama, the state has a bid website for Alabama counties. Elliott said that is an example of how state contracts could be announced.
Elliott said the error led to embarrassment for ALDOT and frustration for contractors.
Ultimately, S.T. Bunn Construction Company was awarded the bid for $45.59 million. The federal government will pay 80%, and Alabama will pay 20%.
Phase one of the project was completed last year, and phase two will focus on base and pavement. The second phase was supposed to begin in May but will now begin on October 15.
The company will realign U.S. 82 from the northwest city limits of Gordo to just east of the Tuscaloosa County line. The project will make U.S. 82 a four-lane corridor from Tuscaloosa to Mississippi.
"The project is expected to improve safety, mobility and commerce in West Alabama," ALDOT said.
The Gordo Bypass is expected to be completed in two years.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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