The Bradford City Water Authority accepted a bid for construction of one new fishing pier and canoe launch each at the Marilla and Gilbert reservoirs.
Authority Executive Director Steve Disney said the authority received seven bids and held a bid opening on Friday.
Submitting the lowest bid was M&M Contractors Inc. of Johnsonburg, who gave a price of $108,374.27.
“We have received a letter of recommendation from E&M Engineers and the McKean County Conservation District to accept this bid,” said Disney.
And that’s what the authority did.
The Conservation District, a partner in the project, will use grant funds set aside for recreation on public lands. The piers and launches will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Construction at the Gilbert Reservoir is scheduled to be completed by June 30, and work at the Marilla Reservoir is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 31.
The Gilbert Dam had been drained for a rehabilitation project that is now complete. “We do have to refill Gilbert Dam,” said Disney, who added the authority is going to keep it drained until the pier/launch project is completed enough that refilling it won’t impede construction.
Disney also announced at the meeting that the authority may have to move another water main due to a bridge replacement project slated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
PennDOT already has two pending bridge replacements that may require water mains to be moved — one on Derrick Road and the other on Olean Road. These are both in Foster Township. The newest project will be moving an eight-inch line on Route 4001 — Big Shanty Road — in Lafayette Township.
The authority also approved an engineering contract with E&M Engineers for engineering services on Big Shanty for a cost not to exceed $23,000, “which is the same price as all the other projects,” Disney noted.
The authority will be eligible for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the cost of the project from PennDOT.
Disney also updated the authority on the progress of the installation of remotely controlled valves at Reservoir No. 4 and the Kendall Avenue tank.
“A majority of the work from the mechanical side was able to be completed at Reservoir 4,” he said. However, completion has been put on hold while the authority waits for the valve actuators to be shipped, which is expected to happen by the end of March. Once work at Reservoir No. 4 is completed, work will begin at the Kendall Avenue tank.
