Erie, Pennsylvania - The $42 million Tullio Arena renovation project has finally begun on Tuesday after periods delays, starting with the demolition of the elevated walkway on the south side of the arena.
The delay was caused by two rounds of higher-than-expected bids. ”We’re glad to have it under way,” said Casey Wells, executive director of the Erie County Convention Center Authority.
A $18.4 million general construction contract with Pittsburgh-based P.J. Dick was finalized. Formal contracts with five other companies for plumbing, electrical and other work will finalize within next week, Wells said.
The six bids total about $32.7 million, below the project’s construction budget of slightly more than $35 million, according to authority figures.
Fans attending sporting or entertainment events shouldn’t be disrupted because most of those events take place at night, after the work day, Wells said.
The Erie Otters hockey team’s head quarters have been moved across the street to an office building at East Eighth and Holland streets.
Some doors and entrances and exits will be closed at times throughout the project.
“It’s going to be a challenging project to be under construction while the building still operates, and we’ve known that from the beginning,” he said.
Site preparation and foundation work would start soon, said Wells. The renovations will take about 14 months.