TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Allison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities
SUBJECT:
title
Award of Contract No. 2997-0826 for the Des Plaines River Tunnel Water Main Improvements Project to Austin Tyler Construction Inc. in the Amount of $5,063,328.90
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BACKGROUND:
On January 5, 2021, the Mayor and City Council approved Resolution No. 7613, committing to water conservation through the reduction of non-revenue water in order to comply with the allocation requirements of the Level of Lake Michigan Act, 615 ILCS 50, and the corresponding State regulations. A condition of the City’s Lake Michigan water allocation permit is completion of the City’s Non-Revenue Water Reduction Plan. A major component of this Plan is water main replacement. The water main replacement program, estimated at approximately 3% per year, must be sufficient to achieve the reduction of non-revenue water from the City’s water system to not more than 10 percent by the year 2030.
As part of this water main replacement plan, the Des Plaines River Tunnel Water Main Improvements Project was prioritized to be completed in 2026. The scope of this project consists of structural rehabilitation of the tunnel, replacement of the water mains within the tunnel, and replacement of a small section of water main in Bicentennial Park. Attached is an exhibit showing the location of this project.
Design drawings and bidding documents were prepared and the invitation to bid for the project was advertised in the Joliet Herald-News on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
The Public Service Committee will review this matter.
CONCLUSION:
On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., three (3) sealed bids were received for the Des Plaines River Tunnel Water Main Improvements Project. The bid summary is as follows:
CONTRACTOR BID AMOUNT
Austin Tyler Construction Inc., Elwood, IL $5,063,328.90*
Airy’s Inc., Joliet, IL $8,490,617.00
Steve Spiess Construction, Inc, Frankfort, IL $9,490,001.00
Engineer’s Estimate $6,132,000.00
* denotes corrected amount after mathematical errors were corrected
The low bid from Austin Tyler Construction Inc., in the amount of $5,063,328.90, is 17.43% below the engineer’s estimate. Austin Tyler Construction Inc. has previously completed similar work for the City and completed this work to the City’s satisfaction.
Funds will be charged to the Water Main Replacement Fund (Org 53880000, Object 557200, $5,063,328.90).
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council award the Contract for the Des Plaines River Tunnel Water Main Improvements Project, in the amount of $5,063,328.90, on behalf of Austin Tyler Construction Inc.
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