The Newton City Council has approved the low bid for the installation of ADA traffic signals at five intersections on First Avenue East that do not currently have signals with an audible sound and pedestrian count-down heads. 

The ADA signals help individuals with certain disabilities cross intersections safely. Kline Electric of Des Moines submitted the low bid of $149,506 that was approved. Van Maanen Electric in Newton was the second lowest bidder at $150,600. With just over a $1,000 difference between the two bids, Newton Acting Public Works Director Jody Rhone explains that the City Council couldn’t choose Van Maanen Electric’s bid.

“Per our financial policy, we have a 5% local preference option up to $1,500. But the current policy excludes projects, because at the time we did not want to potentially violate public bidding laws. In talking with our City Attorney, we may be looking at revising that policy.”

The new ADA signals will be installed by the end of October on First Avenue East at East 8th, East 12th, East 14th, East 19th, and East 23rd streets. An Iowa Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Improvement Program grant will cover $102,420 of the cost. The remaining $47,086 will be paid with city bond revenue. The engineer’s estimate for the traffic signal upgrades was $173,572.