Newtown Creek Bridge Rebid Specifications

Executive Summary

The Newtown Creek Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge & Trail project, detailed in Addendum #2 of the May 1, 2026, rebid specifications, involves the construction of a 170-linear foot timber and steel girder bridge and a 493-linear foot asphalt trail in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The project uses a “Base Bid” and “Add Alternate” structure to give the Newtown Creek Coalition and associated municipalities flexibility in award selection based on available funding and project priorities.

Background

Originally estimated at $750,000 the project was intended to be fully funded by a $999,979 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Local Share Account (LSA) grant. However, the reality of the bids has left the township with a massive problem: the lowest bid came in at $1.1 million, with the high end reaching $1.5 million. Consequently, the Newtown Board of Supervisors authorized Howell Engineering to reject the bids received for the Pedestrian Bridge Project and authorized a rebid to be made.

Project Scope and Infrastructure Components

Bridge Structure: A 170-linear foot bridge featuring timber and steel girders. The bridge deck is specified at 8 feet wide.
Trail System: A 493-linear foot asphalt trail, also 8 feet in width.
Site Improvements: Low-voltage lighting, landscaping, and associated site improvements.

Bidding Framework and Alternates

The bidding process is structured around a Base Bid with multiple Add Alternates. This allows the Owner to accept or reject specific upgrades or modifications in any order, regardless of numerical sequence, to align the project with financial constraints.

Bridge System Alternates

Component	Base Bid Requirement	Add Alternate Options
Railing Systems	42" commercial-grade railing with mesh panels.	42" premium-grade railing with mesh panels.
Decking Systems	Commercial-grade composite decking.	Premium-grade composite decking.
Pier Foundations	Reinforced concrete with commercial-grade formliner and stain.	Alt ii: Premium-grade formliner and stain. Alt iii: No formliner with integrated tint.
Abutments	Timber abutments.	Alt ii: Reinforced concrete with commercial-grade formliner/stain. Alt iii: Reinforced concrete with premium formliner/stain. Alt iv: Reinforced concrete with no formliner and integrated tint.

Trail and Path Alternates

Option	Asphalt Depth	Stone Base Depth
Base Bid	6 inches	6 inches
Add Alternate — High	8 inches	8 inches
Add Alternate — Low	4 inches	4 inches

Substitution Procedures and Owner Rights

The documents establish strict protocols for any deviations from the specified materials or scope.

Owner’s Rights and Value Engineering

The Owner maintains the authority to:

Accept or reject any Alternate at their discretion.
Request pricing modifications during negotiations to meet funding requirements.
Direct changes consistent with accepted Alternates without incurring delay claims, provided these are addressed before the Notice to Proceed.
Request cost-saving “Value Engineering” adjustments prior to construction. The contractor must provide pricing and schedule impacts within 7 calendar days.

Contractor Substitution Protocols

Substitutions are only considered under specific conditions: material unavailability, evidence of improved performance, or cost reduction without quality loss.

Timeline: Substitution requests must be submitted within 10 calendar days after the Notice of Award.
Required Documentation: Requests must include a technical comparison, installation requirements, warranty details, and impacts on both cost and schedule.
Restrictions: Substitutions will be rejected if they reduce durability, performance, or aesthetics, or if they conflict with the Owner’s intent for accepted Alternates.

Operational and Execution Requirements

Upon the selection of Alternates, the contractor is responsible for full integration into the project workflow. This includes:

Contractual Integration: Accepted Alternates are incorporated into the final Contract Sum via the Bid Form. No additional costs are permitted beyond these stated amounts.
Coordination: The contractor must reflect all accepted Alternates in shop drawings, product data, submittals, and construction sequencing.
Scheduling: Changes must be incorporated into the construction schedule without causing project disruptions.
Quality Control: All Alternates are subject to the same quality control processes as the Base Bid items.