Arcata awards $10.8 million contract to replace steel water line; construction expected to finish in 300 days

The Arcata City Council on April 16 awarded a construction contract for the city’s long-planned steel water line replacement project and authorized contingency funding and related execution steps.

Council approved the contract award to McCollin Construction, Inc. (as stated in the motion) in the amount of $10,793,638.66 and authorized the city engineer to increase the contract by up to $795,459.44 for a total not to exceed $11,589,098.10 to cover unforeseen contingencies or additional work. The council also authorized the city manager to execute applicable documents.

City staff told the council the waterline project has been under study for more than five years. Initial estimates were around $5 million; the project scope expanded during design and the engineer’s estimate grew to roughly $40 million for the broader program of locations now identified. Staff said the city’s internal team completed much of the planning and will perform construction management in-house rather than hiring outside consultants.

Public works staff said the project will be funded through a mix of the city’s waterfront fund and an internal loan from the wastewater fund approved at a prior council meeting. Staff said construction is scheduled to begin in May and that the city expects the work to be completed within about 300 days, with public notifications to customers for any planned water disruptions.

Council members emphasized the need to begin construction and thanked staff. A motion to approve the plans and award the contract carried by voice vote; no opposing votes were recorded.