Gateway Plaza and Base Trail Project

Balfour Beatty—Holt Brothers Rail Trail, a joint venture, is requesting bids for the Gateway Plaza and Base Trail project in Durham County, North Carolina, a 1.78-mile ADA-accessible bicycle and pedestrian multi-use trail within the former Norfolk and Southern Rail corridor, with bids due October 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST and a mandatory pre-bid meeting on September 22 at 2:00 PM EST.

Only prequalified bidders are eligible to submit proposals; non-prequalified bids will be rejected as nonresponsive. The prequalification deadline is October 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST. Pre-qualification packages must follow specified instructions and use required forms.

The scope spans gateway plaza construction (including general trades, concrete, masonry, structural steel, thermal and moisture protection, doors, windows, paint, drywall, flooring, interior signage, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and communications) and base trail work (general trades, electrical, earthwork, concrete, masonry, structural steel, bridge, signage, sitework, utilities, paving, rail removal and salvage, and boardwalk). The trail crosses multiple streets—West Chapel Hill, West Main, West Morgan, Fernway Avenue, West Corporation, West Trinity, Washington, Glendale, North Mangum, and North Roxboro—and includes neighborhood connections, art components, stormwater treatment, trailheads, and site amenities. Bid packages are divided into multiple trade categories with a combo package option available.

Bid documents are available beginning September 15, 2026 through BuildingConnected. Non-mandatory site walks are scheduled for September 28 and October 8, both at 3:00 PM EST. Bids will be opened at the City of Durham General Services Department, Conference Room 141, at 2011 Fay Street, Durham, North Carolina 27704. Contact Jonte M. Harris at jharris@holtbrothersinc.com or (919) 480-4078, or Laura Smith at lsmith@balfourbeattyus.com or (919) 883-7061 for access needs or additional information.