City Commissioners will consider awarding a $1.58 million contract during their Dec. 3 meeting for a storm drain project.
Staff is recommending approval of the construction contract for $1,581,695.80 to United Materials for the South Great Falls Storm Drain Middle Basin project.
The project will make improvements to the storm drain infrastructure in the South Great Falls Middle Basin, connecting existing storm drain pipe in 10th Street South near 24th Avenue South with existing pipe in 6th Street South near 30th Avenue South, according to city public works.
City approves contract for southern storm drain infrastructure project
A study for the area was completed in April 2012 looking at existing conditions and recommended storm drain mains, detention ponds, and outfalls for north, middle, and south basins for the South Great Falls area to be utilized as a planning tool.
Eight previous projects have been constructed as a result of recommendations from the study, and there are five remaining projects, including this one, that still need to be completed to mitigate flooding and prevent future problems. The study noted that residents of the area have voiced concerns regarding periodic flooding problems in the area, according to the staff report.
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Existing flows from 22nd Avenue South are captured by a 30-inch storm main in 10th Street South which ends at the northeast corner of a parcel owned by Great Falls Public Schools.
Storm water then flows over land across the school parcel and into a 48-inch storm main in 6th Street South, which eventually outfalls into the Missouri River.
This project will install 36-inch to 48-inch storm drain pipe parallel to an existing sanitary sewer main, as well as manholes and inlets as needed to connect the gap in infrastructure that will capture flows from the school parcel and area to the north and mitigate potential flooding throughout the area, according to the staff report.
In February, commissioners approved an agreement for $195,000 with Water and Environmental Technologies for professional services to design, facilitate bidding, and provide construction phase services for a storm drain infrastructure project.
The design phase engineering has been completed and city staff will perform construction phase engineering services and project inspection.
The city competitively bid the construction contract and received five bids, ranging from $2,027,767 to $1,581,695.80 with the lowest bid from United Materials.
The project has been selected under the public works capital improvements program and is budgeted using available funds from the storm enterprise fund, which is made up of user fees.
