By Carol P. Bartold

May 13, 2015:  With hopes that the second round of bids for the repair of the Parkway Road bridge proved worth the effort, the Bronxville Board of Trustees, at its May 11 meeting, approved a resolution to award the contract to The Arben Group LLC, the low bidder among four companies who submitted bids.

The board accepted the base bid of $348,970 upon the recommendation of engineering consultant WSP SELLS, which vetted the qualifications and checked the references of The Arben Group LLC. Village Administrator Jim Palmer stated that, in light of the high cost estimates received and rejected in the first round of bids, the village asked WSP SELLS to clarify the scope of the work before putting the job back out to bid.

Palmer stated that the village attorney has reviewed the bid bond, which guarantees that the bidder has the capability and resources to implement and complete the job as outlined in the contract. He indicated that he would notify The Arben Group immediately so that all parties can execute the contract this week and assemble to begin actual work. Palmer estimates that, once repair work begins, it should take approximately two months to complete.

"I think every trustee is thrilled to finally get this on our agenda," said Mayor Mary Marvin. "We had to execute a process, frankly, to ensure the village's position was best served going forward." She added that village officials understand people's frustration with the delays in the process and appreciate everyone's patience.

Parkway Road residents Loraine Izzo and Bindu Nair, representing the Parkway Road neighborhood, asked the board to consider reopening Parkway Road as a one-way street when the bridge repair is completed. To date they have the support of 24 neighbors, both homeowners and renters, who are concerned about safety issues after an almost two-year street closure.

Their initial suggestion is to reopen Parkway Road to one-way northbound traffic to provide drivers coming from Yonkers access to the parkways and to allow a through route to the train station and NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital.

"We have endured flooding. We have endured trucks that have to go around Bronxville and make deliveries," Izzo said. "We don’t think this is a lot to ask for."

Izzo and Nair told the board that, before the bridge was closed, residents endured taxis driving 40 to 50 miles per hour on Parkway Road to get to the train station during morning and evening rush hours. "I wouldn't even cross the street to walk my dog for fear of getting hit by a car," she said. She also noted that neighborhood children who ride bicycles in the street are also at risk.

Trustee Anne W. Poorman suggested that the Parkway Road neighbors contact Bronxville Police Chief Christopher Satriale to discuss their proposal.

Mayor Marvin stated that she would review the issue with Chief Satriale and respond to the Parkway Road residents.

The Bronxville Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, June 8, at 8:00 pm in the trustees room at Bronxville Village Hall.

Pictured here:  The Parkway Road bridge.

Photo by N. Bower