With bids nearing $82 million for Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s forced main sewer pipe line in Middlesex County, the county’s cost to build collection systems could be well above original estimates. HRSD pays for the forced main; the county pays for the collection systems last estimated at $41 million.
The Sentinel reached out to Middlesex County Administrator Matt Walker and asked:
“What are Middlesex County’s plans for sewer collection systems and associate infrastructure?”
Walker wrote:
“We have currently paused the project, until HRSD and the county determines how to proceed. Throughout this year’s budget process and work sessions I have advised the board to hold bidding on sewer, particularly the Topping system, until a better bidding environment emerges, and we could see the HRSD bid results. Having seen the results, obviously I stand by this recommendation. In my opinion, the current flood of federal money has created a tremendous building boom and the bids reflect most contractors being strained by the overall strain on their bandwidth to take on new projects and the labor shortage in the industry.”
Walker continued, “I have recommended to HRSD that they consider rebidding the project when there is a better bidding environment and consider breaking the project up into smaller components to allow smaller contractors to bid. Middlesex is waiting upon the HRSD Commission’s final decision on the interceptor (forced main) project at their June commission meeting to ascertain the county’s course.”
