Sewer, Street Projects in Lathrop Continue in 2021

The City of Lathrop has undertaken major efforts to update its infrastructure in recent years, and some of those projects will continue right into the new year

The largest among those projects is the ongoing wastewater collection and treatment plant project, with a total cost of approximately $6.6 million. Of that, $6.1 million is being funded through voter-approved general obligation bonds, while $500,000 came from a grant from the state revolving fund.

Crews are nearing completion on the collection system portion of the project, which includes lining many of the town’s older sewer lines. City Administrator Bob Burns said that part of the project is scheduled for substantial completion by February 3 (pending the weather).

The new wastewater treatment plant – which is being constructed in one of the three cells at the city lagoon at the northeast corner of town – won’t be done until further into the year, Burns said.

Once the sewer collection portion of the project is done, that will clear the way for the city to beginwork on its road improvements project. The city has been waiting to do the bulk of the work on the once-a-decade, voter-approved road improvements until after the sewer line work, so as to avoid fixing a road only to dig it back up for sewer improvements.

The first phase of the road improvements is complete and included work at Hubbard’s Place on the north side of town. The second phase will encompass most of the project, as many of the town’s streets will receive complete overlays or chip and seal coverings.

Sometime in the coming weeks, the city will also put out a sewer extension project for bids. This extension will stretch eastward from the town’s existing system to connect with the recent annexation out to Interstate 35. The new line will go beyond I-35 and will include force mains, gravity feed mains and lift stations to service the new area.
 
The extension will be funded through a combination of monies, including the new city property taxes from the annexation and the one-cent sales tax effective only in the annexation area through the community improvement district. The city also expects to use funds from its existing half-cent sewer capital improvements tax.

The city is also awaiting word on a pair of grants that would make other projects possible. That includes a transportation grant for sidewalk repairs and replacements that would go on the west side of Center Street (Highway 33) going north between Oak Street and Walnut Street.  That’s the first leg in a plan that would eventually expand the city’s sidewalks system to the high school and homes and businesses to the northeast of town. The other grant would help fund proposed improvements at the city park downtown, including inclusive equipment for children and adults of all abilities. This $500,000 proposed project has already received pledges of $100,000 from the Senate Bill 40 board and $150,000 from the Goppert Foundation.