Contract awarded for sewer work near WSUV

The Clark Regional Wastewater District Board of Commissioners awarded Battle Ground’s Tapani, Inc., a $2.5 million contract this week for sewer work near Washington State University Vancouver.

The work will provide service to the new Vancouver iTech Preparatory School site, along with 60 acres of the college campus. The project will also allow service to extend to more than 500 acres around the Northeast 50th Avenue corridor, according to the wastewater district.

“By working closely with our partners, the district has been able to develop the most cost-effective project and ensure it will be completed on time to serve the new school,” said Norm Harker, district board president, in a news release.

The project also will add a new pump station on Northeast 50th Avenue. Construction is scheduled to begin in April and be completed by the end of the year, according to the district.

District funding for the project came from system development charge revenue, which is collected from fees paid by new development.

The Port of Ridgefield is using the project to add a conduit for potential dark fiber optic cable lines along Northeast 50th Avenue and Northeast 159th Street, at a cost of about $300,000.

The wastewater district says the public should expect moderate traffic delays along 50th Avenue and the east entrance to the campus, Northeast 159th Street, during construction.

The Cougar Trails will remain open during construction, but part of the trail will be rerouted for user safety during the project.

The gravel parking area along 50th Avenue will be closed for the duration of construction. Once finished, there will be a small number of paved spots at the new pump station site for visitors accessing the Cougar Trails.