Lee, Archer Western settle bridge delay lawsuit
After a 20-month lawsuit with the builder of the Matlacha Bridge, Lee County was ordered by the court to pay Archer Western Contractors one final payment $1.3 million for demolition of the old bridge and construction of the new bridge.
Demolition and construction began in October 2010 at a bid cost of $17.8 million. Completion was scheduled for November 2012. But in July 2013, 7 months past deadline, Lee County officials sent a stern warning to Archer Western to complete the bridge by July 26, 2013 or “face stern consequences.”
In the letter, Lee County sent to Archer Western in July 2013, the county stated “work on the project has come to a complete standstill” and claimed damages close to $2 million. Months rolled by until the bridge was finally finished in November 2013 – one year overdue. Archer Western submitted a bill for $18.5 million, $700,000 more than the original bid.
The county refused to pay for technical problems the county believed were created by Archer Western. During construction, workers tested the trunnion assembly (the mechanism that raises and lowers the draw bridge) before it was deemed ready for use. This caused a loud screeching noise and damage. The county refused to pay for the repairs and additional costs and claimed $563,500 in damages from delays.
When the bridge was finished and the county refused to pay a total of $18.5 million, Archer Western sued the county. In the final hearing the court ordered Lee County to pay $18 million, $200,000 more than the original bid, but $500,000 less than Archer Western sued for.
Department of Transportation Director Randy Cerchie said, “We paid for the work, but we refused to pay for the problem. The bridge we have now is a good final product.”