With the project set to bid in just a few months, engineers are in the final phase of outlining the construction timeline for the Cullman Utilities Board’s Duck River Dam.

The Duck River project has been in the works for more than a decade, after being permitted by the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers then subsequently delayed by environmental challenges that have since been resolved.

Per the current permit, the City of Cullman has until November 2016 to finish construction and fill the reservoir.

Once complete, the project will create a 640-acre lake with a 32-million-gallon-per-day capacity in northeast Cullman County, which will work in conjunction with the area’s current sole major water source Lake Catoma. The design will be a hybrid, with roller-compacted concrete in the center and earthen wings.

Engineer of record CH2M Hill has completed the 60 percent dam design, with the near-final 95 percent design set for completion before the project’s March 25 bid advertisement date. Officials hope to hire a contractor for the dam construction by May 20, to allow crews to mobilize as quickly as possible to take advantage of the drier, summer months.

Steve Newton, with CH2M Hill, noted they have already received some preliminary interest from roller-compacted concrete (RCC) contractors interested in playing a role in the dam’s construction.

“We’ve already received seven RCC prequalification packages, and we’ll notify them by March 5 as to if they qualify to bid on the project,” he said. “That would provide some flexibility, with different firms able to serve as general or sub-contractors on the project.”

Engineers say the construction schedule is “tight, but do-able” to meet the specifications of the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers permit. Officials say it is imperative to get crews on the ground this summer to start work, so future phases can be worked on during the wetter, winter months.

The project will also require multiple contractors to be on site at the same time, working on different aspects simultaneously. To stay on schedule, CH2M Hill estimates a 10-hour day, six-day work week schedule will be required. Barring any unforeseen weather problems, officials say they are confident the project can be completed on time.

The total cost of the dam project is estimated at approximately $110 million, which is up approximately $40 million from initial estimates due to some unforeseen geological concerns at the site and higher-than-expected flood standards.

Those geological issues led engineers CH2M Hill to conduct a redesign of the project to fit the site as it stands, and the utilities board recently received a formal report from third-party engineers URS Corporation confirming the redesign plan is a sound option.

In an effort to further reduce costs, the Cullman Utilities Board has also commissioned some detailed rainfall studies that could help reduce the spillway size and trim costs.

The board is currently putting together a funding strategy for the next phase of the project, as well as working to pin-point exactly how much the increased price tag will change water rates.

City clerk Wes Moore noted new projections are in line with initial estimates, and he believes wholesale rates stand to eventually increase by approximately $1.55 per 1,000 gallons to cover the full debt service of the project. The wholesale rate is currently $2.10.

Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 134.