MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Three major Morgantown Utility Board projects will go out for bid and likely start this year. The Cheat Lake Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP), Chaplin Hill Water and Sewer Extension and drainage upgrades in Popenoe Run are all on track to get underway.
The final approval for the Cheat Lake WWTP has been received from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the final permits are being secured. MUB officials originally projected an increase in the range of 91-percent to pay for the project estimated to cost about $29 million. The bond request will be advertised as “not to exceed” increased to account for bids that could come in over the estimate. The original adjusted rate for the 91-percent increase was $67.97 per 3,400, the new rate is $71.18.
“This would represent a 100-percent increase in rates and it would provide an additional $3 million in funds to absorb any overrun in the bid,” McNulty said.
The Cheat Lake Waste Water Treatment is expected to go out for bid in the fall.
The successful Popenoe Run project bidder was Laurita, Inc. at a price of $3,228,528. The project is a jointly funded project between MUB, the city of Morgantown, and Monongalia County after serious flooding during the summer of 2021.
“If it’s a mild winter they would work through it and finish in May,” McNulty said. “But, it could be as late as August to finish up.”
The Popenoe Run project is scheduled to begin in the middle of November due to brown bat restrictions, but once started, the work is expected to take about six months to complete.
Right-of-way negotiations with Shorty Anderson’s Auto Service have broken down and if a deal isn’t reached that area of the project will not be completed. The business has asked for an additional $150,000 cash payment in addition to the estimated $300,000 worth of parking lot improvements and $2,800 MUB offered. According to McNulty, the $2,800 was the typical payment to right-of-way owners along the project.
“All the improvements downstream will be done and it will just effect that area right there,” McNulty said. ” As the water runs off it will flood the road as it does today.”
The board also approved more than $10 million in contracts to four separate contractors for the water and sewer extension under I-79 to increase capacity and development to the west. Snyder & Son LLC, Mid-Atlantic Storage Systems, Anderson Excavating, and Bear Contracting all received a portion of the work.
“This project consists of installing approximately 950-feet of 26-inch HDPE waterline under the Monongahela River and 100-feet of 24-inch waterline,” McNulty said.
A portion of the work includes a booster system, a new emergency generator and the steel casing used to get the utilities under the interstate.
“The lowest bidder was Bear Contracting LLC in the amount of $1,992,695,” McNulty said.