Dear Valued WCSA Customer,
As previously shared, the Lee Highway Corridor Sewer Expansion Project will provide much-needed public sewer service to residents and businesses along Lee Highway between Exit 13 and the city of Bristol, Virginia. WCSA recognizes the significance of this project to the communities along Lee Highway, which is why we are providing this update and outlining our next steps.
Due to the delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including supply chain challenges and a shortage of contractors bidding on projects, this development was pushed back from the initial timeline established in 2019. In addition, the original project scope required significant adjustments, necessitating the creation and evaluation of additional cost estimates, which were also impacted by recent inflation.
While navigating these factors, and as part of our due diligence throughout this process, WCSA has completed a series of action items to advance this project:
- engaged localities, agencies and private property owners to obtain input and address questions and concerns regarding the proposed sewer system design;
- conducted property surveys along the proposed project route;
- solicited user agreements;
- held a community meeting with Lee Highway property owners;
- collected easement agreements;
- completed bat surveys on select sampling sites; and
- finalized the overall project design.
The project is largely funded by USDA Rural Development and the Department of Environmental Quality, and WCSA has secured additional financial support from multiple sources to help address increased cost requirements. WCSA will seek supplemental funding, if necessary, to complete this project.
WCSA’s goal is to advertise construction bids for this project this summer. Once this initial expansion is complete, WCSA will have the necessary infrastructure to provide sewer service to additional areas along the Lee Highway corridor, such as the High Meadows subdivision. WCSA can then begin soliciting user agreements from these locations to gauge the potential level of interest in sewer service.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to provide this much-anticipated service to customers in this section of the county. We will continue to provide updates as we move forward.
If you have questions, please contact Lisa Browning, engineering administrative assistant, at 276-676-6785 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Ronald A. Seay
Acting General Manager