Site work on the Knox Community School Corporation’s $20 million building project is set to begin today.
Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart says in a press release that equipment was being moved in Monday and Tuesday, with actual construction scheduled to start today. Redskin Trail is now permanently closed to through traffic. Additions to the elementary and high schools will eventually be built in that area, although there will still be room for a pedestrian walkway.
Reichhart says the project is running slightly under budget, after awarding the first three bids for site construction. Indiana Earth was chosen to complete the site work and utility relocation at a cost of under $1.2 million. Larson-Danielson Construction was awarded the bid for site concrete work for less than $442,000, and the asphalt paving bid was awarded to Reith-Riley Construction for just under $563,000. Bids for building construction and renovations are scheduled to be awarded in May.
There had been some concern that COVID-19’s financial effects would force the sale of bonds for the project to be delayed, but as of last week, School Corporation Treasurer Kasey Clark said it was expected to proceed as planned. “We were kind of concerned because of the market kind of going in the wrong direction,” she said last week. “But we have been speaking with our people with Baker Tilley, and they said that it looks like things are going better and are looking like they should be able to stay on schedule. So we’re crossing our fingers that that’s going to stay that way and we will be good to go.”
Meanwhile, work on the Weinberg Gym floor has been halted due to COVID-19. Reichhart says the sub floor is currently 50-percent done.
