City awards tens of millions in bids to renovate water treatment plant

SAULT STE. MARIE — The Sault City Commission has approved a project investing tens of millions of dollars into the city's water infrastructure.

At the city commission's meeting on Monday, July 1, commissioners approved awarding bids to renovate the wastewater treatment plant.

City officials said the wastewater treatment plant is in need of renovation, as the plant was last upgraded in 1986.

For over two years, the city has been working on putting together a plan to renovate its water infrastructure, which also included closing combined sewer outflows across the city. On Monday, the commission awarded the contract for the plan, which was originally approved in October 2023.

"We're excited to be talking about this project and getting to the point where we are moving forward," said consulting engineer TJ Bates.

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund will be the main funding source for the project, providing $35 million in state funding. Half of the funds will be presented in the form of a grant, and the other half will be in the form of a 2 percent interest loan to be paid back over the course of several years.

Renovations will not only bring the plant up to modern code, but also extend the life of the infrastructure by 60 years and close remaining sewer overflows throughout the city and other water treatment bypasses. The project will also see the construction of a new chemical feed building.

The contract to upgrade the plant was awarded to Miron Construction Company Inc. for $23,981,822.

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The second part of the project will renovate and upgrade the Peck and Meridian streets collection system. While the project is underway to renovate sewers and water collection systems, they will also help restore water lines in the area. The water line portion of the project is still in progress and is expected to be bid out later this month.

This will help address issues around the city such as deteriorating piping and basement flooding for some residents. It will also allow for the closure of two more combined sewer overflows.

This portion of the project was awarded to Bacco Construction Company for $5,691,474.

Construction at the wastewater treatment plant is expected to last around two years. Contract construction employees will be hired from local sources but also from other states due to most of the local labor force already being involved in contracts with the New Lock at the Soo project.

— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com