Madera-based Avison Construction builds from the Central Valley to the Bay Area. Its new $5.3 million contract is for infrastructure work in Downtown Fresno's Chinatown.

The Fresno City Council on Thursday awarded a $5.3 million contract to Avison Construction in Madera for a pair of transportation infrastructure projects in Fresno’s Chinatown neighborhood.

The first project, the Chinatown Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure Project 1, involves the installation of streetlights on F Street from Fresno to Tulare streets. Trees will be planted on F Street from Fresno to Mariposa streets. China Alley will be reconstructured between Kern and Inyo streets. The project also includes a parklet

The second project, the Chinatown Urban Greening Project 6, will install streetlights on F Street from Tulare Street to Ventura Avenue, and Mariposa and Kern streets between E and G streets. The project will construct new curb ramps and fill in sidewalk gaps as well as reconstruct additional sections of China Alley.

City purchasing officials said the bids came in higher than expected for a number of factors, including a constrained timeline incurring higher expenses for labor and materials.

The presence of numerous utilities in China Alley also increases the likelihood of unforeseen conflicts, which could lead to higher costs, according to a bid proposal evaluation.

Founded in 1992 by Louie Avila, Avison Construction builds highways, bridges, wastewater treatment plants and other infrastructure projects from Fresno the Bay Area, according to the its website, which states Avison has 75 employees and $200 million in contracts.

Avison is a Certified Small Disadvantaged Business and a California Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.

American Paving Co. in Fresno was the other bidder, coming in at $6.2 million.