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Albany board approves three water-main replacements, part of 5-year hardening plan
Summary
The board approved three separate contracts to replace a combined ~4,900 feet of aging 2-inch galvanized mains (three divisions totaling roughly $416,136) as part of a five-year infrastructure hardening plan to improve fire flow and reduce leaks.
The Albany Utility Board voted March 12 to award three separate contracts to replace failing 2-inch galvanized water mains under bid reference 26033, approving projects covering about 4,900 feet of pipe at a combined cost of roughly $416,136.
Engineering staff explained the bundled procurement draws three separate divisions into a single bid reference to increase competition and let smaller contractors bid on one or more divisions. “This is a bid reference 26033, which consists of 3 divisions, 3 separate water main replacement projects…When you bundle 3 projects together, you attract, as we got 5 bids,” Glady said.
Staff (Everson) described the divisions: Division 1 will replace about 1,200 feet of 2-inch galvanized main with 6-inch on the 2200 block of Taft Avenue; Division 2 will replace roughly 1,500 feet on the 81100 block of South David Street; Division 3 will replace roughly 2,200 feet on Central Avenue (East Side). Everson said the upgrades improve fire flow and water capacity, noting the replacement will raise flow from tens of gallons per minute to an estimated 1,000 gallons per minute where needed.
“The 3 separate projects…we can track the cost of each project easier,” a staff member said, noting the bundling also increased the number of bids. The board discussed mileage remaining in the system; staff said the city has about 700 miles of main and about 9 miles of remaining 2-inch galvanized main, with the projects reducing that total further.
The board voted separately on each division: the first contract was awarded to HOTX LLC (Albany) for $101,900; the second to HTS Construction of Albany for $135,496; and the third to HTS Construction for $178,746. Each motion was seconded and approved by roll call. Board members emphasized coordinating replacement work with downtown sidewalk projects and noted that downtown work can increase per-foot costs depending on underground utilities and required street restoration.
Staff said they aim to replace several miles per year as funding and scheduling allow; the work is part of the utility’s five-year strategic plan to eliminate remaining 2-inch mains and address the oldest infrastructure first.
