By John Surratt

john.surratt@vicksburgpost.com

 

The National Park Service permit allowing the city’s proposed auxiliary waterline to cross the Vicksburg National Military Park has expired, but park and city officials do not believe the problem will delay the project’s start, which could begin in mid- or late summer.

The six-month permit expired Dec. 31, Patricia Montague, supervisory ranger at the park told city officials and representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and IMS Engineers, the project engineers, at a Tuesday meeting on the pipeline.

“The length of time to have taken this to the table has caused your permit to expire,” Montague said.

At the time it was granted, city and IMS officials anticipated the project to install a backup water line for the city would be underway. The project, however, was delayed while engineers worked with Mississippi Department of Health officials to resolve state questions about the project. The state Health Department must approve waterline projects. It granted a permit for the project March 3.

Montague said new park Superintendent Bill Justice was willing to work with the city to get a new permit.

Montague said Justice was willing to expedite and extend the permit, which has to go back the National Parks regional director in Atlanta for approval, “But we are going to have to explain why it took so long.” She added Justice wanted to wait until the project starts, because it will give the city more time on the new permit.

“He’s very willing to work with everyone, we just need to know the exact date it’s going to start and your estimated end, so that when we send it back to the regional director in Atlanta, he will ask those hard questions and we can answer that,” she said. “I think it would be in your best interest, when you’re ready to go to your contractors, to let me. When you’re ready to roll, let me know and the I can take care of that for you.”

City and IMS officials believe work on the project can begin while the city applies for the project could go out for bids by late May or early June. Tommy J. Avant, corporate vice president of engineering for project engineer IMS Engineers, said the revised construction plans are complete and the construction documents are ready to advertise the project, which is now projected to cost up to $4.2 million, $1 million more than the original $3.2 million estimate in 2010.

City officials anticipate advertising for bids on the project in late May or early June, and estimate it will take 222 days to complete once a contract is awarded. Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said he will meet with Fort Hill Drive residents to discuss the projects impact on them soon the contract is awarded to discuss how the project will affect the road.

Montague said park officials want to make sure the park’s archeological sites are protected, and added a warning for the engineers.

“We do have live shells, and so that is a concern to us,” she said. “And if you’re digging (and find a shell) the best thing is to stop. Luckily for us, we will accept it, and if it is a small to mediocre problem, we will remove it for you and put it in our bomb blast. If it’s mediocre to greater, we will have to call the Clinton Bomb Squad.”

When completed, the 30-inch line will provide emergency water service to the city’s estimated 10,000 customers if something happens to the city’s 36-inch main waterline that runs along Washington Street. About $2.45 million of the project cost is coming from a grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Broken out, the city’s match to finance the work could come to $1.75 million, depending on the selected bid for the project.

The line will cross a section of the park on its way to connect with an existing city line on Jackson Street.

The line will start at the water treatment plant at Haining Road, go south along North Washington Street to a point south of Vicksburg National Cemetery, where it will cross park property to Fort Hill Drive and then to Cherry Street, where it would connect with an existing city line on Jackson Street.