7 contractors bid on Central Wastewater Treatment Plant flood protection project

The City of Tacoma has received seven bids from contractors interested in working on a project to protect Tacoma’s Central Wastewater Treatment Plant against future floods.

In February, the City of Tacoma announced it would accept bids for the project, which calls for the installation of approximately 2,500 feet of sheet pile floodwall around the southern and northern portions of the plant. The project also consists of constructing five floodgates (of which three will be automated), a trench safety system, and a new pump station, among other things.

According to City of Tacoma officials, the plant, which is located just west of the Puyallup River in a low-lying area at 2201 E. Portland Ave., receives and treats more than 130 million gallons of wastewater per day during large storm events before it flows into Commencement Bay. Eighty per cent of the wastewater comes from Tacoma, but the plant also treats the wastewater from about 19,500 customers in Fife, Fircrest, and unincorporated Pierce County.

In October, the Flood Control Zone District Board of Pierce County announced it would award a $6 million grant to the City of Tacoma to help build the floodwall. The board noted the project was selected primarily due to its high-risk ranking — namely, an overflow from the plant could introduce untreated wastewater into Puget Sound, impacting water-based businesses, recreation activities, and wildlife. The City of Tacoma’s Environmental Services has funded the project’s $1.2 million design. The year-long construction project is expected to begin this year.

The bid deadline for the $6.1 million to $7.5 million project expired on Tues., March 11.

The seven companies that placed bids include Orion Marine Group (Tacoma, Wash.) — $5,938,500; James W. Fowler Co. (Dallas, Ore.) — $6,815,000; IMCO General Construction (Tacoma, Wash.) — $5,050,775; Quigg Bros. (Aberdeen, Wash.) — $5,544,225; Massana Construction (Gig Harbor, Wash.) — $6,660,500; Tapani, Inc. (Battle Ground, Wash.) — $5,937,000; and Rognlins Inc. (Aberdeen, Wash.) — $5,216,625.

To read the Tacoma Daily Index‘s complete and comprehensive coverage of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant flood protection project, click on the following links: