Oak Ridge — The Town Council voted to award a contract to Park Construction of North Carolina to build about 17,000 linear feet of 12‑inch PVC water transmission main and approved a capital project ordinance for the work, council members said during the meeting. Town staff told council the lowest responsible, responsive bid was $4,416,206 and that adding construction administration, observation and a recommended 5 percent contingency brings the projected project total to about $4.9 million.

Council members and staff said the main will connect Oak Ridge to the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County utility system and to the elevated water tank now under construction. "The lowest responsible responsive bid was from Park Construction of North Carolina at $4,416,206," staff told the council. Staff also said grant funding is available and currently exceeds the project's estimated total cost.

The council voted to approve the resolution authorizing the bid award and later approved a capital project ordinance to fund the work. Council member Mr. Hart made the motion to approve the resolution; the motion passed on an aye vote. Staff and council emphasized that the award and spending are contingent on final approval by the Division of Water Infrastructure, the project’s primary funding agency.

Council members said the water main will allow Oak Ridge to place fire hydrants along portions of the route and could enable nearby customers, including Oak Ridge Elementary and properties in the Oak Ridge Commons area, to connect to a municipal water system in the future. "There may be future wonderful options to connect Oak Ridge water to residents along the path of the water main," a council member said.

Council discussion noted the project is entirely grant‑funded as presented and that water enterprise revenues and expenses will be accounted for in the town’s water enterprise fund, separate from the general fund once construction is complete. Staff said the water main contract award will not be finalized until the Division of Water Infrastructure approves the award and associated funding.

The council approved the contract award and the capital project ordinance. Staff will proceed with contract finalization and project administration following the state funding agency’s approval.