Plymouth Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson asked permission of the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety to move forward in soliciting bids for the Candy Lane Storm Sewer project.
Several changes were made as soil borings in the area showed the need to widen the excavation area with lines to be installed 16 to 17 feet deep. There is also high potential for dewatering which Davidson said drives up the cost. Also, a good chunk of underground concrete was found under five inches of asphalt so the expense to saw cut and remove the concrete was figured into the increased cost.
With those changes, the engineer’s estimate went from about $651,000 to about $809,000. The non-construction costs that include the remaining engineering fees, design, construction engineer, inspection, bidding, and easement requirement (if necessary) is about $66,000.
Davidson said he and Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver reviewed financial paperwork and found that the city can afford to do the project even with the proposed increase. The funds are not taxpayer funds, but storm water fees and wastewater depreciation funds.
The project is anticipated to take about 90 days and the residents in the area may have trouble with access to their homes as the streets on Candy Lane and Ferndale will need to be dug up to accommodate the project. The cost of repaving the roads is figured in the estimate.
Davidson requested that the board approve his recommendation to move forward with the bidding the project, and they unanimously approved the request. Davidson said he will have a better idea of what costs the city is facing once the numbers are reviewed.
