Wichita City Council members got an update on construction work at the northwest water treatment facility.
The design of the over half a billion-dollar plant is more than 93 percent complete, and construction around 25 percent complete. Thanks to favorable financing rates, the city says they will save about $120 million.
Over 385 thousand hours have been put into the project, with only one recordable accident prior to March 10. The tragic death of construction superintendent Manny Esparza, 55 of Wichita, halted work at the plant for about a week.
OSHA is currently investigating the accident. Supervisors inspected the site and have implemented re-training and additional safety measures.
Public works director Alan King says that federal legislation now requires that projects receiving federal funding must purchase all construction materials from American suppliers, which will significantly increase the cost of impacted projects. Since the city was approved for WIFIA funding prior to this legislation taking effect on May 14, 2022, there will be no impact to the project. However, state funding may be impacted but a decision is still pending. In the event that the city has to abandon state funding, the city would use issue revenue bonds to avoid project cost increases. The city says future rate projections would not be impacted.
King also added that 64% of workforce dollars to date are going to local companies. The facility's estimated substantial completion date is September 2024, with final completion in early 2025.
