CLEARFIELD -- Improvements to the city's water infrastructure continue as officials award a bid for work on 525 North.
The city received bids from six contractors to install a new water line on 525 North as well as a new pressure release valve station on 1000 West. The highest received bid was from AAA Excavation Inc. for $272,889.50.
Kapp Construction was awarded their bid of $211,884.45 with a contingency of $46,614.84. Total bid price is $258,499.29. This was the lowest qualified bid submitted for the project.
Planned work includes installing an 8-inch water line pipe and a 15-inch storm drain pipe.
Public Works Director Scott Hodge said this planned work is part of the ongoing updates the city is doing on the water infrastructure. The city has been especially focused on this during the last three years, because it has had $3 million in bond money to use for any needed projects.
Work on 525 North was always planned, but it was recently boosted on the list because of the problems that line has been having in the last several years. Hodge said specifically the line has had three leaks in just the past year.
"The number of leaks elevated its priority," Hodge explained. "We needed to get this work done."
He explained that the line is under pressure, and when leaks come, water rises to the surface and damages the road. With the line is not working effectively, there is less water pressure for residents and secondary damage to other systems, such as the roadway.
"The whole section just needs to be replaced," Hodge said. "There has been too much difficulty with this water line."
Though repairs can be made, Hodge added, that has proved ineffective.
"That's what we have been doing," he said. "We've been having so many leaks that we felt it was to our advantage to just replace the line."
Prices of fixing a leak can vary greatly depending on when it occurs and how long the line is down for.
"We are basically eliminating the emergency and not disrupting the services for residents," he said. "When we have a leak, we have to shut down to make the repairs. This disrupts services and brings our people in on an emergency basis to make the repairs."
Hodge said fixing this line is bringing the city to just about the end of its $3 million in bond money. This will likely be one of the last projects the bond pays for, but it doesn't mean an end to the need for repairs.
Hodge said the city still has many areas in which 40- to 60-year-old pipe needs to be replaced. Those sections will have to wait until more money is available.
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