Clark Construction of Texas Wins $7.3M Reconstruction Project for Victoria City

Situated only 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and within a two-hour drive of Corpus Christi, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, the Victoria area serves as a key junction for highways linking these regions. In 2019, exports exceeded $69 million, and prominent employers such as Caterpillar, DOW, Formosa Plastics, and Seadrift Operations play a vital role in maintaining a robust business climate. Businesses throughout Victoria tap into the resources offered by Victoria College and the University of Houston Victoria for talent development and skills training initiatives.

As Victoria expands and evolves, the City is actively focused on maintaining and upgrading roads and infrastructure to benefit all residents. In 2024, several neighborhood improvement projects are underway, including the Tanglewood Phase I Street Reconstruction, which was recently awarded to Clark Construction for $7.3M.

Before exploring the project, we must first understand the criteria the City of Victoria uses to select streets for repair.

How Victoria Chooses Which Streets to Repair First

The City of Victoria follows a strategic process to determine which streets to repair each year. In 2020, the City completed its first comprehensive Street Assessment Study, using advanced laser road surface testing to assign Pavement Condition Index (PCI) scores to every locally managed street.

These PCI scores, unlike past visual assessments, provide a more accurate understanding of pavement conditions and help shape the City’s capital improvement plan, which currently includes projects like North Heights, Dairy Road, and Crestwood.

Beyond surface conditions, the City also considers the state of underground utilities. If pipes beneath a street are due for replacement, repairs to the surface may be delayed to avoid the need to dig up newly paved roads later. The Tanglewood subdivision, for example, requires both utility replacements and street repairs, with design services for these upgrades starting this fiscal year.

Balancing the budget is another key factor. Large-scale reconstruction projects like North Heights, which cost over $16 million over seven years, need to be spread out over time to ensure funds are available for other areas of the city.

Alongside expensive reconstructions, the City prioritizes preventative maintenance, allocating part of the annual budget to sealing streets that are in good condition. This approach helps extend the lifespan of streets and prevents the need for costly repairs down the line.

These efforts are all part of Victoria’s five-year capital improvement plan, which is regularly updated to reflect the City’s evolving infrastructure needs.

The Tanglewood Phase I Street Reconstruction Project

On May 27, 2024, the City of Victoria took a significant step toward revitalizing its infrastructure by issuing a solicitation for the Tanglewood Street Reconstruction Project. This initiative promises to transform key neighborhood streets, and the City outlined an ambitious scope of work for the first phase.

At the heart of this project is a comprehensive rehabilitation plan that involves advanced techniques such as lime stabilization and geo-grid installation. These methods will enhance the roadway’s durability, followed by a sturdy limestone base, a protective seal coat, and a smooth hot-mix asphalt (HMAC) overlay.

But that’s not all—this reconstruction project goes beyond just the roadway. It will also encompass the removal and replacement of curbs, gutters, and driveways, ensuring that both residential and commercial properties benefit from the upgrade. To top it off, storm sewer features will be expertly installed to effectively manage water runoff, alongside other essential components necessary for a successful reconstruction.

This substantial capital improvement project will see the transformation of 49,500 square yards of pavement and 24,000 feet of linear curb and gutter. The streets set to undergo this exciting metamorphosis include Teakwood Drive, Maplewood Drive (from Tanglewood to Teakwood), Sherwood Drive (from Tanglewood to Teakwood), Beechwood Drive (from Westwood to Maplewood), Westwood Drive (from Sherwood to Maplewood), Idylwood Place, and Stonewood Place.

The Criteria to Filter Out the Real Gold

In this project, the City has their own standards to pick out the ideal vendor. This meticulous selection process is designed to ensure that the chosen contractor meets specific criteria that align with the City’s goals for quality, safety, and efficiency.

In the evaluation of the project, several key factors will be considered, with no specific order of importance assigned. The Cost of the Work will carry the most weight at 50%, underscoring its critical role in project assessment.

Timeliness is crucial; therefore, the Proposed Schedule/Contract Time is valued at 15%. This criterion emphasizes the necessity for projects to be completed on time.

Another important consideration is Past Performance on Similar Projects, also weighted at 15%. This aspect evaluates the qualifications, reputation, and capabilities of both the contractor and their subcontractors on similar projects.

Attention will also be given to Available Resources for Project Completion, which accounts for 5%. This criterion assesses the personnel and methodologies that may be applicable to the project.

Equally important are the Overall Qualifications, Reputation, and Past Relationship with the City, contributing another 5%. This includes evaluating the contractor’s qualifications, safety record, and experiences working with the City or other public entities.

There’s more, the Contractor’s Corporate History and Stability will be factored in at 5%. This criterion looks at the company’s historical stability and any issues such as litigation or liquidated damages.

Lastly, a minimum of five References is required from respondents, including contact details for similar projects. This requirement also contributes 5% to the overall assessment, providing further validation of the contractor’s qualifications.

How Many Vendors Made It to the Final Bid?

There are two vendors that reached the final bid for the Tanglewood Phase I Street Reconstruction project. The first vendor, Clark Construction of Texas, Inc., submitted a base bid amount of $7,316,069.80. Located in San Antonio, TX, they also provided an alternate bid amount of $90,250.00, resulting in a total bid amount of $7,406,319.80.

The second vendor, Lester Contracting, Inc., is based in Port Lavaca, TX. Their base bid amount was $8,366,970.00, with an alternate bid amount of $285,000.00, bringing their total bid amount to $8,651,970.00. While Lester Contracting has a solid reputation for completing construction projects, their bid did not match the competitive pricing set by Clark Construction.

These preliminary results indicate that Clark Construction has offered the lowest total bid, making them a leading contender for the project. Consequently, Clark Construction of Texas has been awarded the contract due to their competitive pricing. Their lower cost, combined with their experience and expertise, has led to the decision to award the contract to Clark Construction of Texas.

The Awarded Vendor – Clark Construction of Texas, Inc

Founded in 1978 by A.J. Clark Sr. and the Clark family, Clark Construction of Texas, Inc. remains a family-owned and operated road construction company specializing in seal coat and hot mix asphalt projects across Texas. The company’s motto emphasizes quality work and safety for both its employees and the traveling public. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Clark Construction has delivered quality services throughout Texas and neighboring states.

In 1994, the company, in collaboration with BearCat Manufacturing, revolutionized the chip seal industry by introducing the first successful Variable Rate Spray Bar Distributor. This innovative process allows for precise spray rates controlled by the driver, enabling seal coat crews to adjust spray rates dynamically based on vehicle wheel bases.

In the mid-90s, Clark Construction also became a leader in the Nova Chip asphalt paving process, earning numerous Quality Paving Awards from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Texas Asphalt Pavement Association. Notably, in 2009, they received a National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) award for Nova Chip’s top quality in the entire United States.

Recently, Clark Construction enhanced its ethics policy by appointing Dondi Scumaci to certify all management positions and office personnel in the latest ethics standards. The company aims to ensure its employees uphold the highest ethical standards while representing Clark Construction of Texas, Inc.

Clark Construction of Texas, Inc. excels in multiple domains, particularly asphalt preservation, roadway development, and protective sealing. The company’s asphalt preservation services utilize specialized sealants to shield surfaces from harmful UV rays, moisture, and chemicals, effectively reducing deterioration and prolonging the life of pavements.

In addition to this, Clark Construction is dedicated to roadway development, which includes constructing new roads and upgrading existing ones to promote safe and efficient travel while improving overall infrastructure quality. Their protective sealing services add a robust layer to asphalt surfaces like driveways and parking lots, increasing durability and extending service life by mitigating damage from water, UV exposure, and everyday wear and tear.

In July 2024, the City Council approved awarding the Tanglewood Phase I Street Reconstruction Project to Clark Construction for $7,316,069. Construction is set to begin in October and is expected to be completed by October 2025, according to City Engineer David Sheblak.