The Missouri Department of Transportation is canceling its bid opening, originally planned for March 26, due to concerns about federal funding levels.
This is MoDOT’s second bid cancellation in as many months, according to a news release from the agency, representing approximately $130 million in highway and bridge projects.
When MoDOT canceled its Feb. 26 bid opening, officials said future bid openings were contingent on congressional action to fix highway and bridge funding. Since then, Congress has not addressed a $12 billion shortfall in federal highway funding, making it impossible for MoDOT to deliver improvements scheduled for the 2010 construction season, officials said.
In Missouri, nearly $243 million worth of city, county and state highway and bridge projects are at risk this fiscal year.
“Because MoDOT's federal funding stream for the remainder of this fiscal year is still uncertain, canceling the March bid opening is the most prudent decision we can make,” said Pete Rahn, MoDOT director. “MoDOT will not seek bids on future projects until the funding shortfall is corrected.”
MoDOT is working with its statewide planning partners to develop contingent schedules for future bid openings and will announce those schedules once the federal funding level is defined, according to the release.
