Contractors bid on Canal Side work

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The long-awaited rebirth of Buffalo's inner harbor took a multi-million dollar step forward on Thursday.

Three major contractors, including Ciminelli out of Buffalo, are bidding to put in the canal system for Canal Side.

Canal Side Construction Manager Mark Smith said, "The last one will be L.P. Ciminelli."

There was high tension in a room packed with contractors reps, as Smith opened and read the bids for work to be completed in the next year and a half.

ECHDC President Tom Dee said, "The apparent low bidder today came in at about $40.5 million, and we had good competitive bidding which we are really happy about."

The contractors are bidding for construction of the canal system and tow paths, the building of six 19th century-era barges, and one level of parking for 170 cars. The bids will be awarded after they are carefully examined.

"That should be happening in a few weeks. We have a lot of homework ahead of us," said Smith.

In about a year and a half, newly built canals will define the district and be ready for all season use.

Dee explained, "The beautiful thing about the winter use is we're going to ice skate, so we're going to try to make, as we've always talked about Buffalo, making it more user-friendly in terms of the weather. Summertime, people love to be on the water. This is going to bring the water into the city and get ready for the next phase of construction when we can build up around it."

Six barges, including passenger boats nd line boats that carried freight, will be built true to size.

"People can literally walk on those and experience what it was like," said Dee.