Weatherford awards $1.77m construction contract to RNO for Northeast water line replacements

Weatherford awards $1.77m construction contract to RNO for Northeast water line replacementsThe Texas utility is prioritizing the replacement of over 6,000 linear feet of pipeline to address vulnerabilities in its aging distribution network.

RNO Construction secured the $1,770,954 contract as the lowest responsive bidder among 10 interested firms.

The Northeast Water Line Improvements project includes the installation of 5,385 linear feet of 8-inch and 675 linear feet of 24-inch PVC water line.

Construction is slated to begin in August 2026, with an expected completion date of April 2027.

The Weatherford Municipal Utility Board unanimously approved a $1.77 million construction contract with RNO Construction on June 25 to execute the city's Northeast Water Line Improvements project. The capital project targets a distribution area experiencing frequent main breaks due to older, damaged, and undersized pipes. Director of Public Works Matt Leppla told the board that the project will primarily focus on the northeast part of the city, along with an additional smaller replacement segment along Old Dicey Road. The targeted pipeline replacements span multiple blocks, including sections of East Fourth Street, North Elm Street, East Fifth Street, and North Rusk Street. RNO Construction secured the 240-day contract after submitting the lowest responsive base bid of $1,770,954, beating out nine other competitors. The project scope involves the open-cut installation of approximately 5,385 linear feet of 8-inch and 675 linear feet of 24-inch PVC water line, alongside the installation of new gate valves, fire hydrant assemblies, and water service connections. According to Leppla, the city anticipates delivering the notice to proceed in August 2026, with final project completion expected by April 2027. Following the underground utility work, the city plans to program the affected roads for resurfacing. The contract award underscores Weatherford's ongoing efforts to address vulnerabilities in its existing water network. During the same meeting, Director of Water Utilities Rick Shaffer briefed the board on a recent emergency repair of a 1955-era, 24-inch steel transmission main. That pipeline suffered a blowout at a creek crossing due to mortar lining failure and corrosion, temporarily triggering a boil water notice in the city's Miller pressure plane before crews successfully isolated the leak and restored system pressure.