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Arkansas City approves emergency sewer main replacement under BNSF Railway
Summary
The commission authorized an emergency contract for replacement of a collapsing clay sewer main under the BNSF Railroad for an estimated $477,822; the pipe is a 15-inch clay line about 340–350 feet long and replacement will use HDPE with casing and new tie-ins.
Arkansas City commissioners authorized an emergency agreement Jan. 7 for a sewer-main replacement under the BNSF Railway after cameras showed the existing clay line was collapsing.
Staff said the affected run extends roughly 340–350 feet beneath the railroad and carries sewage from a substantial portion of the north part of the city (roughly between Kansas and Madison avenues). The existing line is clay and 15 inches in diameter; staff said the replacement will likely use 15-inch HDPE with a carrier pipe installed in casing and new tie-ins on either side of the track.
The city presented an estimated cost of $477,822, subject to fee and permitting fluctuations associated with railroad permitting. Staff said the work will be paid from the sewer fund and that railroad coordination and specialized equipment are key complicating factors.
Commissioners expressed concern that emergency contracting limits competition but acknowledged the railroad permitting relationship made the local contractor choice beneficial. A motion to authorize the emergency agreement passed by voice vote.
