Jennings waterline project will cost city more than expected

Construction on a waterline extension project to serve newly annexed parcels north of Interstate 10 will cost the city nearly $150,000 more than officials thought it would.

The Jennings City Council this week approved a $496,771 bid from CO-D Construction of Parks for the project. The company was the lowest of five bids received for the project, according to Mayor Henry Guinn.

The project, managed by Domingue, Sazabo and Associates, involves replacing an old six-inch water line with a new 12-inch line, including boring under I-10,“The city has been working on this project for quite some time with our engineering firm,” Guinn said.  The project is slightly over budget, with the lowest of five bids from CO-D Construction of Parks coming in at $496,771, which is within the city’s capacity to absorb, Guinn said. The city originally budgeted $350,000 for the project.

“…It’s not a monumental increase, and definitely something the city can absorb,” Guinn said.The project calls for replacing the current six-inch water line which runs on the southern service road to the two hotels currently located just off I-10.

“That six-inch line will be abandoned and removed, and we will run a brand new 12-inch line from ShopRite north,” Guinn said. “We will curve along the service road to roughly about where the airport property begins, and then we will bore underneath I-10 and provide municipal water to our newly annexed parcels on the north side of the interstate.”

The project is expected to begin in November with construction completed early next year.

The city began discussing the water extension project earlier this year with the Old River truck dealership after the state fire marshal’s office mandated the business install a fire suppression system.

Guinn said this is a good project for the city because other businesses including a nursing home, a modular trailer company, a tractor implement business, a trailer park and the Louisiana Oil and Gas Park will also benefit from the water extension project.

The area is currently served by Jeff Davis Parish Water District 4 which provides water along the entire northern interstate corridor within the city limits. However, the pipes are too small to adequately produce enough water and pressure for commercial properties north of I-10, Guinn said.