Add Colorado to the savvy states that are now using an alternate design/alternate bid process (ADAB) in their selection of material for paving and construction projects. The Colorado Department of Transportation has selected Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc., to construct two new bridges and the associated roadway along SH 21 in Colorado Springs, Colo. This project represents the first time CDOT has bid a project using their alternate design/alternate bid process (ADAB).

Both the asphalt and concrete pavement industries provided input in the development of the ADAB procedure. To make the ADAB procedure fair to both the asphalt and concrete industries, it considers long-term maintenance and user costs, includes no material adjustment factors, and requires that both pavements be bid by the square yard.

The ADAB procedure includes a bid adjustment factor for maintenance and user costs, which brings it to a total of $920,000, which is then added to the low asphalt bid for evaluation. All seven contractors elected to submit only concrete pavement bids.

This project will require about 3,600 tons of portland cement.