Panama City approves $40 million in infrastructure upgrades. Here is what's coming
PANAMA CITY — Officials continue to drive the city down the road to recovery more than three years after Hurricane Michael, approving on Tuesday $40 million of water and sewer infrastructure upgrades.
The projects will include two main projects: the first phase of Project Restore for Millville and the Drummond Park area, and the restoration of 13 lift stations. City officials said they expect the engineering work on the projects to be completed in the next four to six months, with construction starting right behind and taking eight to 10 months.
The goal of Project Restore is to repair utility infrastructure and increase flood prevention. The projects are coming in at $20 million each and are funded by state disaster recovery grants.
$19M going to Millville makeover: Panama City moves forward with $19 million plan to upgrade Millville water and sewer lines
'Worst infrastructure in city': Panama City's $20.5 million water and sewer projects will target 'the worst of the worst'
City Manager Mark McQueen said replacing and restoring vital infrastructure keeps Panama City on the path to becoming the premier city of the Panhandle.
Millville, Drummond Park to receive makeovers
Commissioners approved six engineering firms to work on different portions of the project simultaneously to speed up the process, McQueen said.
The process to receive funding took more than a year, McQueen said.
"It's pretty significant what's going to be able to take place in each of these two areas," McQueen said. "So, it will be the water lines and sewer lines and the storm drains, as well as the roadways. That's important as we rebuild the totality of the city to become the premier city in the Panhandle of Florida."
Hurricane Michael left Millville's and Drummond Park's infrastructure badly damaged.
"The infrastructure is in a very, very poor shape, but we did a heat map of the entire city," McQueen said. "These two areas were designated as very critical needed areas to be replaced. And we're looking forward to executing these dollars to help us accomplish them.
"... We're grateful that this is grant-funded, which means it's 100% funded by Community Disaster Block Grant for Disaster Recovery," McQueen said. "That's good news for our citizens."
13 lift stations getting a face-lift
The commissioners also approved nine engineering proposals to replace or refurbish 13 lift stations.
McQueen said each of the lift stations are in critical places.
"They have key attributes of where they're located and what they do to help the more efficient flow of our sewer system," McQueen said. "We need to upgrade these ... and some adjoining collection pipes."
The engineers will do full evaluations of each station and the lines that lead to them, and then make recommendations on whether to replace or upgrade the stations.
Phase I of the project is part of a $23 million grant funded by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Department of Emergency Management.
Some of the lift stations took an especially hard hit from Hurricane Michael in 2018.
"This includes a number of lift stations including the one over in St. Andrews, which is at the water's edge with manholes that are actually in the bay," McQueen said. "So, we're actually going to be able to permanently fix some of these dilapidated and deteriorating water and sewer lines that have either deteriorated over time or were damaged as a result of Hurricane Michael.
"They'll have all the contract documentation necessary, so that we can actually go out and begin, very quickly, the ability to do the bid process to get these projects under construction."
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City approves $40M in water, sewer infrastructure projects
