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Board approves $216.7 million GMP amendment for South Hillsborough pipeline
Summary
The board unanimously approved the third guaranteed maximum price amendment for the South Hillsborough pipeline (GMP #3), a 26‑mile project designed to deliver up to 65 MGD; staff warned that three critical permits must arrive for construction to begin.
Tampa Bay Water’s board unanimously approved the third guaranteed maximum price (GMP #3) amendment for the South Hillsborough Pipeline Project on Monday, authorizing $216.7 million to Garnet Companies Inc. for open‑trench construction work.
Maribel Medina, Planning and Projects Director, told the board the 26‑mile pipeline is designed to deliver up to 65 million gallons per day and is at 90% design. GMP #3 totals $216,700,000, with $170,500,000 allocated to segment A, $44,600,000 to segment B, and $1,600,000 for Hillsborough County‑requested infrastructure.
Staff reported that 28 permits are required for construction; to date 16 permits have been applied for. Three permits were identified as critical to issuing a formal notice to proceed: the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) environmental resource permit (ERP), a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit, and the Hillsborough County right‑of‑way permit. Medina said the ERP has been deemed complete by FDEP and is expected within roughly two weeks; the Corps has deemed segment A complete but is awaiting the ERP, and the County ROW permit remained pending.
Property acquisition remains active: the project needs 218 temporary or permanent easements. Staff said 45% of needed easements have been obtained, another 45% of parcels are in eminent domain proceedings with order‑of‑taking activities beginning this week, and the remaining 10% are county‑owned parcels expected to close starting in December. Medina emphasized that staff is prioritizing acquisition in sequence with construction needs so property needed for early construction will be secured first.
Commissioner Eggers asked the board to rate relative concern for the three critical permits; staff rated the ERP as low concern (1–2) because it is near issuance, the Army Corps as mid concern (about 5) because of a federal shutdown affecting timing, and the County ROW as relatively secure though still pending county review.
The board moved and seconded approval of the third amendment and recorded a unanimous vote.
Staff said construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in November pending issuance of the three critical permits and that pipeline service is expected in late 2028.
