Steamboat Pilot & Today

South Routt — Connell Resources has won the right to repave and widen the first four miles of Colorado 131 from U.S. 40 by submitting a low bid of $4.186 million.
Connell beat out four other bidders for the Colorado Department of Transportation job.
The four-mile stretch is the first section of a multi-phase project to widen and repave the highway from Steamboat Springs to Oak Creek. Each section of work will be bid out separately.
"It's nice to have some home-town boys out there," CDOT project engineer Van Pilaud said.
Connell has had an office in Steamboat Springs for 10 years and all of its employees here, including the owner, Tony Connell, are northwest Colorado residents.
CDOT and Connell now have 20 days to get contracts signed to finalize the deal.
If all goes well, Connell should begin work soon.
"There were actually certain parts of the bid that had work start this fall," said Sandy Pokay of Connell Resources. "We'll work until weather doesn't permit it."
Most of the work, including pulling up the old road and replacing it with a wider highway, will be done next summer.
Pilaud worked with Connell to widen U.S. 40 from Walton Creek Road to the base of Rabbit Ears Pass a few years ago and, most recently, on the road construction project on top of Rabbit Ears this summer.
"I'm really looking forward to having another venture with them," Pilaud said.
Connell began looking for subcontractors weeks before the company knew it was the low bidder.

To reach Doug Crowl call 871-4206 or e-mail dcrowl@amigo.net