The Westover City Hall meeting chamber was packed on July 30.
The city is hopeful that’s a promising sign.
The gathering was the mandatory pre-bid meeting for the city’s Holland Avenue and Dunkard Avenue lift station projects.
“There was a very large turnout, which we hope is a good sign. This room was full. Hopefully that turns into some competitive bidding to keep the price down,” Public Works Director Jason Stinespring told Westover City Council earlier this week.
According to Stinespring, 18 contractors were represented at the meeting.
“Our next date is bids are due no later than Aug. 20. Our engineer will review those bids, and we’ll see those by our first meeting in September,” Attorney Tim Stranko said.
The projects were jointly financed and bid by the city but will be awarded as separate contracts.
The Holland Avenue work will replace approximately 2,800 feet of gravity sewer line and 3,000 feet of storm sewer line beneath the road’s surface. It will also include the rehabilitation of the retaining wall along the road’s lower portion.
The actual construction will be completed at night, between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Holland Avenue is expected to be complete late this year or early 2025.
The construction of a new primary lift station, as well as the installation of 500 feet of sanitary sewer line and 500 feet of force main, is expected to stretch well into 2025.
The total cost of both projects is estimated to be about $8.25 million.
In other Westover news, Parrotta Paving has been hired to complete the city’s summer paving program.
City council approved a contract that will pay the contractor $27.50/ton for asphalt placement and $4/square yard for milling.
Parrotta was the lowest of four bids for the job.
Included on the paving schedule are some or all of the following: Lane, Raleigh, West High, Orchard, Pierce, Sycamore, Tyler, Pittsburgh and Fifth streets as well Florida and Ohio avenues and multiple alleys.
Stinespring said he anticipates the paving work should be complete by the end of September.
Lastly, the city will purchase two new Ford Explorers from Laurel Auto Group, out of Johnstown, Pa., for the Westover Police Department.
Laurel was the lowest of four bidders at $45,525 each.
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