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Bastrop project to increase retail wastewater capacity with minimal disruption
BASTROP — City Council approved nearly $1 million to quickly and efficiently expand sewer lines along Texas 71 in Bastrop with a nondisruptive process.
Pipe bursting uses underground machinery to split pipes and pull replacement lines into place with almost no trenching required. City Manager Sylvia Carrillo- Trevino said the project is a resourceful way to replace undersized sewer lines and is already underway for several retail developments in the area.
“This is probably the most economical and the fastest way to get this done,” she said.
Pipe bursting may sound messy, but it is just the opposite, according to industry professionals. New pipes are inserted as a single piece with no joints, reducing the risk of leaks over time.
Replacing existing 10inch lines with a 12-inch pipe will increase maximum flow to meet future needs and leave extra room for more expansion, according to Engineering Project Manager Elizabeth Wick.
Wick said the estimated 846 gallons-per-minute (GPM) required for future development is too much for current sewer pipes running along 3,620 linear feet west of Burleson Crossing. Current capacity ranges from 327 to 515 GPM.
The project also includes 70 linear feet of new 15-inch wastewater pipe with steel casing installed by bore and 715 of 15-inch wastewater PVC pipe installed by open cut. Corresponding manhole upgrades and surface repairs are included in the scope of work, according to Wick. The contract was awarded Nov. 4 to Bull-G Construction, LLC, the lowest responsible bidder at $949,216. A 10% contingency is included in the price.
Certificate of Obligation Series 2024 funds will primarily finance the project with an allotted $708,050. The remaining $241,166 will come from the wastewater fund balance, according to Carrillo- Trevino.
The city hired Collier Engineering and Design, Inc., to design and plan the project in 2024. Last month, the design firm helped the city evaluate sealed construction bids for the project.
Bastrop received six bids ranging from $862,924 to $1.5 million.
