Milton seeks bids for water tower project; deadline is Jan. 30
Milton’s new water tower on Federal Street is gearing up to become a reality, as the town has put out a notice for construction firms to bid on the project.
Work to build the 500,000-gallon tower, to be located on town-owned land adjacent to the Rails to Trails on Federal Street, will include site grading, foundation work, and installing electric and piping systems. The planned $3.8 million project is being paid for through a loan from the state Water Infrastructure Advisory Council.
Sealed bids are due at Milton Town Hall by 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 30. The winning bidder will be announced and approved by town council in February. The contract is projected to last for 450 days, meaning the contractor would have around a year and a half to complete the project.
The tower would be about 130 feet high and 56 feet in diameter, similar in height to the town’s two existing water towers. Town officials say it will provide additional storage to meet daily demand and serve as a backup if either of the town’s two other towers is out of service for maintenance or repair.
Town voters, by a 513-92 margin, approved borrowing the money during a January 2024 referendum, which also included two other projects. The first is a $1.78 million water main project that would replace 3,900 linear feet of existing mains underneath Carey, Walnut, Magnolia, Reed and Mill streets. The work would include replacing valves, abandoning the existing mains and repaving the roadway. At Walnut and Mill streets, the town would upgrade to an 8-inch main, while at Carey Street, the upgrade would be from a 2-inch to a 6-inch main. The water main project’s design plans are nearly 90% complete, and town officials anticipate going to bid in early 2025.
The second project is a $579,000 rehabilitation of the Chandler Street water treatment facility. The work would include upgrading the plant’s electric system, generator, chemical feeds and testing equipment, and leveling the concrete floor. Design plans for the Chandler Street project are not yet completed.
