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City awards $11.3 million pipe‑bursting contract to replace high‑break mains; project promises faster, lower‑cost water main replacements
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Summary
Laredo approved a construction contract under a cooperative purchasing agreement to replace about 33,000 linear feet of water main using trenchless pipe‑bursting technology. City officials said the method reduces design, restoration and service disruption costs and will accelerate replacement of high‑break cast‑iron mains.
The City of Laredo approved a construction award on Monday for a pipe‑bursting waterline replacement project valued at $11,314,949 under a cooperative purchasing contract. The work, to be performed by Murphy Pipeline Contractors (via the Purchasing Cooperative of America program), covers roughly 33,000 linear feet of water main prioritized by main‑break frequency across council districts.
Utilities staff and the interim utilities director, Buzz Pischker, described pipe bursting as a trenchless replacement technology that minimizes open excavation, reduces restoration and design costs, limits right‑of‑way disruption and speeds replacement. Under the process, crews thread a new high‑density polyethylene pipe through the existing line and then pull it into place while fracturing the old pipe outward; services are pretested and prechlorinated so the new main can enter service quickly.
City presentations noted a mix of operational benefits: fewer service outages on individual properties (the main tie‑over typically lasts only a few hours on switch‑over day), fewer joints (reducing future leak risks) and significantly lower overall project cost when the avoided design, restoration and traffic‑management expenses are included. Staff said the selected initial streets were chosen by analyzing main‑break frequency and that each council district will receive at least one replacement segment in the first phase.
Procurement used a cooperative contract to accelerate work, and staff said they expect crews on the first sites in June with completion of the initial contract phases by September. The council approved the award by voice vote. Utilities staff said the work will also provide data on existing service‑line materials, which will inform future lead/service‑line replacement planning.
Council members asked about public outreach and street restoration; utilities staff said the contractor will perform restorations timely and the communications team will publicize schedules and detours. The city plans to show progress and technique to the public via PIO materials once construction begins.
