Board approves construction‑phase contract amendments for 26‑mile South Hills pipeline; construction could begin this fall

Tampa Bay Water on July 21 approved construction‑phase amendments to engineering and program‑management contracts for the South Hillsborough pipeline project, a roughly 26‑mile transmission main designed to deliver up to 65 million gallons per day to South Hillsborough County. Maribel Medina, planning and projects director, presented the three related agenda items (C1–C3) and requested approval for amendments to the engineer‑of‑record and program management contracts. “Today I will request your approval for agenda items C1, C2, and C3 which are closely related and pertain to the construction phase of the South Hills project,” Medina told the board. The board voted unanimously to approve the items. What the board approved: The three actions approve construction‑phase work with (1) Wait Trim Inc. for Segment A construction engineering and inspection (contract amendment C1), (2) Stantec Consulting Services for construction engineering services for Segment B (C2; staff reported the Stantec amendment is for $6,900,000), and (3) a first 12‑month amendment for program and project management and staff augmentation with Black & Veatch (C3). The Stantec amount was disclosed during the presentation; the board record did not state the exact dollar amounts for the Wait Trim and Black & Veatch amendments at the time of the vote. Project schedule and sequencing: Staff said the project has reached 90 percent design and that construction could start as early as this fall for trenchless/tunneling operations on Segment A, followed by tunneling in Segment B in summer 2026. Open‑cut pipe installation is scheduled to begin in 2026; flushing, disinfection and commissioning are planned for fall 2028 with final restoration and closeout continuing into 2029. Permits, easements and budget: The project requires 29 permits; nine permit applications have been submitted and one permit has been issued. Easement acquisition is in progress: staff reported 89 easements obtained (41 percent of the project total) and that 112 parcels were included in eminent‑domain resolutions previously approved by the board; three of those parcels have been filed in court. Staff said 17 remaining parcels are owned by Hillsborough County, the ELAP program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and TECO. Staff told the board that construction manager‑at‑risk packages (GMPs) have been approved for earlier work; the next GMP for open‑cut work will be bid and returned for board consideration. Cost and staffing approach: Medina said the agency has budgeted program and construction management support and that the Black & Veatch amendment will be funded by Tampa Bay Water and reimbursements from Hillsborough County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District as applicable. She told the board the project budget includes allowances for project management and that, to date, program management costs are within projected percentages. Board action: Each amendment passed unanimously on recorded voice votes. The board did not change the underlying project scope or schedule during the vote. What was not decided: No construction contracts for the open‑cut packages were awarded at this meeting; those bids will be returned to the board for approval when received.