The Salem City Council has awarded a $228,479 bid for replacement of a portion of the main gas line along South College Street.
City Manager Rex Barbee says even though they received only one bid, it was $46,521 under the engineers estimate.
“USDI has the manpower and equipment to do it all and get it done. They’ve worked with us in and do an excellent job. They will start at Mitchell Street, go under the tracks, and run the water line to Lake Street.”
Barbee says the contract requires the work to be completed by the end of August. The line serves both Radiac Abrasives and the City of Salem Gas Plant. That’s why the city wants the work done during a lower usage month. Barbee hopes the switchover of lines will result in gas being out less than a day to customers.
The city’s gas plant does have another natural gas source to continue service during the outage.
