The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $20.4 million contract for construction of laterals and pumping plants for Block 5 of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project in New Mexico, Secretary of the Interior Cecil D. Andrus announced today.
Granite Construction Co., Watsonville, Calif., has received the contract based on its low bid at the August 6 bid opening in Farmington, N.M., where the project headquarters are located. Granite has 580 days to complete the work.
Commissioner of Reclamation R. Keith Higginson said the major work will consist of furnishing and laying about 26 miles of 6- through 66-inch-diameter pipe, constructing about 4 miles of concrete-lined laterals and appurtenant structures, and constructing 12 pumping plants.- Other work items are furnishing and erecting three elevated steel tanks, two air chambers, and one surge tank and constructing approximately 9.2 miles of 34.5-kilovolt distribution line.
The Bureau of Reclamation is constructing the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to supply irrigation water to the Navajo Nation. Work started in 1962 and the first water was delivered about 31/2 years ago. The 110,000-acre project is being developed in 10,000-acre blocks, and Block 5 covers an area alongside State Highway 44 south of Bloomfield.
Second low bid was $20.9 million by C. R. Fedrick, Inc., Novato, Calif. and third low was $22.9 million by Martin K. Eby Construction, Inc., of Omaha, Neb. The engineer's estimate was $16.9 million.
