Kehler Stadium Construction Delayed Until Next Spring

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Kehler Stadium renovation project will yet again be delayed. A new construction date has been set for spring of 2019, the Westfield Public School District announced Thursday.

The decision was made to avoid disrupting Westfield's sports programs and other activities. This comes following a two-month delay caused by an unwarranted bid protest.

“While there was no easy solution to address the delay caused by this unnecessary and frustrating bid complaint, we feel this decision to hold off construction on Kehler Stadium until spring of 2019 is the least disruptive option to our sports programs and other activities,” said Business Administrator Dana Sullivan.

The decision was made following discussions with the vendor, Your Way Construction Inc., and high school administrators.

“We will continue to work with our coaches to try to minimize disruption and address concerns,” said Superintendent Dr. Margaret Dolan. “We appreciate the community’s ongoing patience throughout the Kehler renovation project.”

Work on Kehler Stadium will include replacing the turf field, track, blacktop, bleachers, and renovating the bathrooms.

Work had been initially been scheduled to begin in early May, however a protest filed by H & S Construction and Mechanical Inc. of Elizabeth — one of the vendors who bid on the contract — held the project up for two months.

H & S Construction and Mechanical filed the protest after the Westfield Board of Education awarded the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Your Way Construction Inc. of Irvington on March 19.

H & S Construction was the third lowest bidder in the process. However, their protest was denied on April 13 in Union County Superior Court.

On April 16, H & S Construction and Mechanical filed an appeal, which was once again denied by the appeals court on July 5.

• See Related: Bid Protest Denied, Kehler Stadium Project To Finally Begin
• Related: Protest Delays Kehler Stadium Project By 6 Weeks

(Image via Google Maps: Kehler Stadium)

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