A field survey for a proposed second water transmission main in the Tuna Valley is underway and will likely continue for months.
In July, the Bradford City Water Authority announced its intention to install a 20-inch transmission main between the water treatment plant and Reservoir #4 by the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The authority hopes adding the second transmission main will prevent a water crisis like one Bradford water customers experienced in February 2015. A break in the only transmission main left thousands without water for several days.
The authority heard an update on the project at their meeting on Wednesday.
Employees with Bankson Engineers have been performing field surveying and construction design for the possible project for about two weeks. They anticipate being on site for several months.
The proposed route for a second main would be to go from the plant down West Corydon Street, across Crooker House Lane, along Lang Maid Lane, down West Washington Street to Poplin Avenue, along a water line right of way to Brook Street, across Interstate Parkway and Abbott and Prospect streets to connections for the 14-inch and 24-inch mains at Reservoir #4.
The current plan is to install the new transmission main, then repair the 24-inch transmission supply main. Disney noted in July that the authority would have to make sure the project is financially feasible before starting.
Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the authority heard updates from other ongoing projects.
Construction for a bridge over the Gilbert Reservoir spillway — originally expected to be completed this year — will not go out to bid until 2019.
Dam safety has approved the bridge project but has asked for more information, which means that GAI Consultants of Pittsburgh must perform more field survey work to get the needed specs.
As of Wednesday’s meeting, Mortimer’s Excavating Inc. has installed 11 of the 12 new gate valves that are being put in at locations where effective positive shutdowns have been difficult in the past. The last 14-inch gate valve will be installed once materials have arrived, which is expected to happen in the coming weeks.
In September, the authority will work alongside a Bradford Township road crew to install a 6-inch water main under Marilla Brook in conjunction with the Sleepy Hollow bridge replacement. The water main installation will begin once the new bridge is complete and the old one removed. They will install a fire hydrant on the Sleepy Hollow side of the brook, too.
Regarding the pending cleaning of the water treatment plant lagoon, the project is expected to happen in late September or early October. Custom Ag Services of Marietta will remove and dispose of any accumulated residual sludge from two large settling lagoons for a cost of $278,000.
Finally, the authority heard an update of a pending repair at the Marilla outlet channel. Dam Safety has granted permission to proceed, the project is slated to take one to two weeks in September.
