NC Highway 61 Water Line Extension

The NC Highway 61 Water Line Extension is a critical infrastructure project procured by Alamance County, involving the City of Greensboro and City of Burlington, with funding through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds administered by the NC Department of Commerce. The procurement seeks a contractor to complete a comprehensive water line extension approximately two miles along NC Highway 61, starting from the south side of the Interstate 40/85 interchange. The project scope includes installing approximately 7,200 linear feet of 12-inch ductile iron pipe, with additional 8-inch and 6-inch ductile iron pipe segments, and two horizontal directional drilling (HDD) lines under Lake Mackintosh totaling 2,800 linear feet of 16-inch HDPE pipe. The base bid includes HDD-1, with HDD-2 presented as an alternate option, and requires relocation of an existing water main interconnect between Greensboro and Burlington. Traffic control must adhere to an approved NCDOT encroachment permit, and the project demands precise construction techniques considering existing infrastructure and environmental conditions. The procurement is open for bid submissions, with the due date set for September 30, 2025.

The contract opportunity does not explicitly specify set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises based on the provided documentation. The project is funded through federal ARPA funds, which typically encourage diverse contractor participation, though specific requirements are not detailed in the available materials. The total project budget is not explicitly stated, but the comprehensive nature of the water line extension and the involvement of multiple municipal entities suggests a significant infrastructure investment. The technical complexity of the project, involving horizontal directional drilling and precise pipe installation under challenging environmental conditions around Lake Mackintosh, indicates that prospective contractors will need advanced engineering and municipal infrastructure construction capabilities. Bidders should demonstrate expertise in water infrastructure projects, familiarity with NCDOT permitting processes, and the technical capacity to execute complex underground utility installations. While no incumbent vendors are mentioned, the project represents a strategic municipal infrastructure improvement leveraging pandemic recovery funding to enhance regional water distribution capabilities.