Phillipsburg, Unionville water project finds contractor

Published 9:00 am Thursday, December 15, 2022

TIFTON — With Tift County’s community development block grant project getting off the ground, the Phillipsburg and Unionville water infrastructure issues could be a thing of the past.

Tift County Commission awarded the bid for the grant-funded project to Hancock and Sons Construction at the Dec. 12 meeting, charging them with updating the water and sewer systems of the Phillipsburg and Unionville areas.

At the Dec. 6 County Commission meeting, Jason Jordan, county special projects manager, said Hancock and Sons made the lowest bid at $6,719,579.

Tift County Manager Jim Carter assured the board the county has reserve funds alongside the $6.7 million from the CDBG that could be put toward the project.

In addition, Carter said $200,000 of the Advanced Rescue Plan Act funding had previously been allotted to a hydrology study in the same area, which he reported had been completed with only $31,513 spent.

At Carter’s suggestion, the remaining surplus was redirected toward the current project, being approved alongside the awarding of the bid as part of the consent agenda Dec. 12.

Once the project begins, Hancock and Sons will be tasked with replacing water and sewer lines, upgrading piping, repaving curbs, gutters and streets, and stabilizing ditches in the area with culverts.

Carter estimated it would amount to 4,000 linear feet of curbs and gutters, 4,500 combined feet of eight-inch and 18-inch sanitary sewer replacement, and at least two box culverts.

Jordan said construction would likely begin early spring but would most likely not be completed before this time next year.