Sussex County approves sewer construction awards and a $69,375 change order for Kings Highway relocation

Sussex County Council on Oct. 21 approved several sewer‑system actions tied to DelDOT—s Kings Highway widening and the county—s Warwick Park sewer expansion.

Change order for Kings Highway: Mark Parker of the county engineering department presented Change Order No. 2 for Christiana Excavating Company—s base contract for the Kings Highway advanced utility relocation project. The change order covers well‑point dewatering needed where contractors encountered high groundwater and totals $69,375; the amount includes an add/deduct unit‑cost component to account for variable pump rental duration and is contingent on DelDOT—s final concurrence. The motion to approve was moved by Mister Lloyd, seconded by Mister McCarron, and carried on the recorded vote (transcript shows the council voted yes). The engineering and finance departments recommended approval.

Warwick Park Sewer Phase 1: Patrick Brown presented the Warwick Park sewer project, which will tie Warwick Cove and Gull Point communities into county sewer service and later address septic elimination in Warwick Park in a second phase. Seven bidders responded and the low bidder, Adel Construction, was awarded contract CS‑24‑13 for $1,387,948, contingent upon DelDOT concurrence. The award motion was moved by Mister Riley, seconded by Mister Lloyd, and the motion carried with the recorded yes votes.

Engineering contract amendment: Council also approved Amendment No. 3 to the base contract for George, Miles & Buhr for construction administration services in a not‑to‑exceed amount of $35,000. That amendment was moved by Mister Riley, seconded by Mister Lloyd, and carried.

Council and staff described the Kings Highway relocation as a two‑phase project undertaken to protect the county—s 30‑inch transmission force main and to replace aging infrastructure while coordinating with DelDOT—s road project. Phase 1 is under construction and targeted for completion by the end of the year; the Warwick Park phase is expected to take roughly a year of construction for the awarded portion, with phase 2 (septic elimination in Warwick Park) to follow later when design and permitting are complete.

Next steps: Christiana Excavating proceeds with approved dewatering work pending DelDOT concurrence; Adel Construction can mobilize under the awarded contract once contractual contingencies are met; engineering will oversee construction administration under the George, Miles & Buhr amendment.