Board awards 270 west contract

The Hot Springs Board of Directors awarded a $85,880 utility relocation design contract earlier this week for the widening of Highway 270 west from the Highway 227 junction to Fleetwood Drive.

Part of Engineers Inc.’s contract includes determining how much of the estimated $1.9 million cost to relocate water and sewer lines is eligible for reimbursement from the Arkansas Department of Transportation. It reimburses utility owners for moving infrastructure that is outside of the state’s right of way.

The city budgeted $1.5 million from its water fund and

$750,000 from its wastewater fund for 2018 utility relocations.

Engineers Inc. estimated

60.38 percent of the city’s cost will be reimbursed. Part of the project affects lines in the Royal Water District, the sprawling improvement district three times the size of Hot Springs’ corporate limits the city is obligated to serve per a 1999 agreement. Engineers Inc. estimated 74.03 percent of the district’s cost will be reimbursed.

The resolution awarding the contract also amends the city’s agreement with the district, authorizing the city to collect a $1.50 surcharge per meter per month from Royal water customers to pay for the district’s relocation costs. The city will receive a 25 cent billing and collection fee from the surcharge. Engineers Inc. estimated $128,256 of Royal’s cost is not eligible for reimbursement.

The city has said it serves about 3,400 customers in the Royal area and is obligated to provide unlimited connections for new customers, an arrangement that will remain in effect until indebtedness the district issued to pay for infrastructure connecting it to the city’s regional water system is retired.

The widening project was initially planned for 3.5 miles from Mountain Pine junction west to the Lake Hamilton bridge, but the state said funding limitations reduced it to

1.65 miles. That will take the widening to Fleetwood Drive. The remaining distance to the bridge will be done during a subsequent phase, the state said.

A $12.8 million cost is estimated for the project, which will be funded by the Connecting Arkansas Program that’s supported by the half-cent state sales tax voters approved in 2012.

Line improvements

The board awarded a

$379,767 contract to Coakley Co. Inc. for waterline improvements along East Belding, Nickels and Woodridge streets. Mains will be upgraded to 6 inches, and work on the East Belding main will include a 2-inch conduit for fiber-optic cable.