Constant Creek Sewer Interceptor Project

Early 2022 – City staff met to discuss ideas for a grant application for the B.A.S.E. grant program administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce.

February 2022 – Staff reviewed the City’s proposal. Project ideas included a 30-inch sanitary sewer interceptor along Constant Creek.

October 2022 – The City applied for the grant for water infrastructure improvements and industrial development.

April 13, 2022 – El Dorado was announced as a first-round recipient for a $3 million B.A.S.E. grant.

May 2022 – The City received a draft version of the Water Treatment and Capacity Study and the Sanitary Sewer Capacity Study for review. Included in the priorities identified were the Central Avenue water transmission main and Constant Creek Sanitary Sewer Interceptor, both of which are included in the BASE grant.

October 2022 – Survey work started on the Constant Creek Sanitary Sewer Project. Work is being done to determine the existing condition so a plan can be developed on how to proceed.

January 2023 – Garver, the consultant for the Constant Creek project, has completed the survey of the sewer interceptor. They are now working to develop plans showing the existing and proposed alignments for the project.

February 2024 – Final stages of due diligence. Work is underway to complete the archaeological investigation (this is expected to take four to five weeks) and to secure the final easements necessary to get the project underway.
- The city submitted a permit application for the sewer crossing under the BNSF right-of-way. BNSF may require changes to the designed facilities because the original sewer main was installed in 1956 and now they have different requirements for infrastructure. This review is anticipated to take 30 days.

April 2024 - Documents have been sent out for signature to provide the easement access needed to proceed.

May 2024 - The City received approval for the easements for the project.

May 2024 – Garver, the consultant for the Constant Creek Sewer Project, identified a sub-consultant for the archaeological work needed before we can let the project for bid. Staff will schedule this work so we can move closer to the bid date for the project.

June 13, 2024 - Bid opening. The bid came in about $1.5 million higher than the engineer's estimate. Staff begin re-alignment in hopes of reducing the costs and having less of an effect on residents of Fredrick Drive. We may re-bid the project utilizing a different method to replace the pipe.

August 20, 2024 - The Commission approved a bid from Nowak Construction for $4,616,953 following the redesign of a portion of the project to reduce the costs.

November 2024 – Start of Phase 1, which is from High Street through Douglass Road (see map under Phase Tab).

January 2025 - Traffic controls are set up at the Trafficway and Douglass (with Douglass closed to thru traffic) as the project crosses the Trafficway.

January 30, 2025 - Traffic to be shifted to the north side of Towanda Avenue between Charron and Arthur Street for approximately a month. 

March 5, 2025 - Towanda Avenue eastbound closure begins from Haverhill Road to Edgemoor Drive.

March 24, 2025 - Outside eastbound lane of Central Avenue (K-254) will be temporarily closed for approximately three weeks.

May 2025 – Project completed.