WILMINGTON — A multi-year project to renovate water and sewer infrastructure in downtown Wilmington may finally be nearing completion.
At its Feb. 7 meeting, the CFPUA finance committee unanimously recommended approval of a $6.8 million contract with Raleigh-based construction firm Carolina CivilWorks, as well as a $660,700 engineering contract with Wilmington-based McKim & Creed for the Walnut Street pump replacement project.
The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority describes the Walnut Street Pump Station replacement as the last phase of the Water Street and Riverfront Improvements Project, a coordinated effort with the City of Wilmington that has been planned since 2015.
According to the city, it includes a compilation of projects along the Cape Fear River such as streetscape renovation from Market Street to Princess Street, renovation of Riverfront Park, repairs to the Market Street bulkhead, and stormwater improvements.
CFPUA’s portion of the project aims to renovate aging water and sewer infrastructure downtown through the establishment of new water lines in the area, as well as a gravity sewer system; it uses gravity to move raw wastewater to the Northside Wastewater Treatment Plant. Construction began in 2018, but local business owners have repeatedly expressed frustration about the project’s delays and street closures.
CFPUA Public Information Officer Cammie Bellamy told PCD the first phase of the project involved the replacement of water and sanitary sewer on Water Street between Market Street and Princess Street with contractor Trader Construction Company.
The second phase included replacing water and sewer in the portion of Water Street between Chestnut Street and Grace Street with contractor SCP-EW River Place. Bellamy said developer River Place Development Company led this part of the project.
Lastly, Wells Brothers Construction received $1,100,642 to replace water and sewer infrastructure on the part of Water Street between Grace Street and Walnut Street.
Construction on the new phase will take place at the foot of Walnut Street and North Water streets, as well as the median of Market Street between Front and Water streets. CFPUA does not yet have a start date as the North Carolina Division of Water Quality is still reviewing the project bidding documents. It is estimated to take two years to complete once it breaks ground.
Bellamy told Port City Daily it is too early to say if the project will cause lane closures akin to its previous phases — which some business owners believe has been detrimental enough to their revenues to warrant financial restitution. CFPUA and the City of Wilmington have cited supply chain issues, Hurricane Florence, and the need to adjust deep sewer lines as reasons for past delays.
The plan for the Walnut Street pump project includes replacing an existing pump station near the Ballast Hotel on Water Street, to redirect flow into a recently installed sewer and convert a pump station at the bottom of Market Street into CFPUA’s gravity sewer system.
Bellamy told PCD the current Walnut Street Pump Station was built in 1970 and is reaching the end of its useful life. She said the replacement will also allow the demolition of a pump station located at the median of Market Street between Front and Water streets. It’s currently difficult to access for routine operation and maintenance.
The CFPUA board will vote on approval of the $7.4 million contracts at its Wednesday meeting.
The project will be supported by a $5.15 million low interest loan from the Department of Environmental Quality’s State Revolving Fund approved in 2022; the remainder will be covered through CFPUA’s Capital Improvements Plan budget.
Carolina CivilWorks was the only construction bidder for the project for $6,882,225. The engineer’s probable cost was about $600,000 lower at $6,234,008. Bellamy said discrepancies between an engineer’s initial estimate and a contractor’s bid are common, especially due to inflation and material shortages faced by the construction industry in recent years.
Similarly, McKim & Creed was the only engineering consultant firm to apply for the project’s construction administration and oversight contract.
Its vice president and regional manager, Tony Boahn, presented the proposal and a letter recommending CFPUA approve the contract with Carolina CivilWorks. It includes $250,300 for administration, $388,800 for construction observation, and $21,600 for a completion fee.
In November 2023, the board also approved a $10,737,977 contract to Carolina Civil Works for the rehabilitation and replacement of the gravity sewer in downtown Wilmington. The project includes installation of 7,000 feet of 8-inch-to-16-inch water mains and 5,000 feet of gravity sewer mains.
At the November 2023 meeting, Charlotte-based consulting and engineering firm W.K. Dickson received a $836,200 contract amendment to oversee the gravity sewer project. The firm was first awarded a $106,700 contract for engineering services related to the downtown Wilmington water infrastructure project in January 2021; its total amended contract was $1.1 million.
Many residents expressed frustration over business disruptions caused by water utility and streetscape rehabilitation project on Water Street during closures during the 2019-2022 period.
More recently, residents expressed concerns about another Wilmington-CFPUA project on the section of North Front Street between Chestnut and Walnut streets, with some recalling past experiences.
“We don’t want another Water Street that has been torn up for years,” Java Dog Coffee House owner Paul Brown told PCD in 2022 during the North Water Streetscape project.
While not part of the Water Street and Riverfront Improvements Project, Carolina CivilWorks and McKim & Creed have worked with CFPUA on earlier downtown water infrastructure renovation efforts. In May 2018, the board agreed to a $517,400 contract with McKim & Creed for design, bidding, oversight and administration of a new force main from the Cowan Street pump station to 10th and Fanning streets.
Carolina CivilWorks was awarded $2,034,015 for construction of the 5,100-foot, 16-inch force main. Similarly to the Walnut Street pump, the authority identified the 40-year-old former Cowan Street force main as a high priority for replacement. The project finished in June 2019.
Tips or comments? Email journalist Peter Castagno at peter@localdailymedia.com.
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