The Cresson Borough Municipal Authority of Cresson, Pa., will award contracts for two projects expected to deliver major improvements to the water distribution system and the wastewater collection lines, the Tribune-Democrat reported.
Bids that opened last month came in lower than expected. Funding is already lined up for the water line replacement, and funding perspectives look good for the wastewater work, according to the newspaper.
“We intend to award both; the ditch is going to be opened up one time,” Authority Chairman Phil Miller said, referring to the benefit of tearing up streets just once for both projects.
The projects were bid together, with the base bid of replacement of the nearly four miles of old water line, and replacement of 12,000 ft of sewer-collection line as an alternate, the newspaper reported.
Latrobe, Pa.-based R.A. Monzo Construction Co. was the low bidder of the combined projects at just under $2.75 million, which means the work will cost about $250,000 less than anticipated, Authority Engineer Richard Wray said.
PENNVEST approved a $2.4 million low-interest loan in October to replace antiquated and broken lines, which in recent years have resulted in water loss as high as 50%, the paper reported. The project will tighten the system and cut down on maintenance by reducing the high number of breaks, authority officials said.
The loan will cover the construction costs plus engineering and related expenses.?Funding for the sewer-line improvements, which carry a total project cost of about $1.1 million, is being sought through a loan from the Rural Utility Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to the newspaper. This federal funding source looks promising, Wray said.?The authority anticipates a May-June start with completion in 11 months.
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