Council advances planning and contracts for Home Road water plant as construction advertising begins

Columbus City Council moved forward on a major water infrastructure project Tuesday, authorizing continued engineering and construction-phase services for the Home Road Water Plant and describing a multiyear construction schedule.

Deputy Director for Public Utilities told the council that the city has begun site work and advertised bids for plant construction, and that the project’s construction estimate is about $1.6 billion. “These activities are needed to protect our $1,600,000,000 investment,” the deputy director said, describing Hazen Sawyer’s role in inspection, cost control, scheduling and shop-drawing review during construction.

Officials said Phase 1 site work has already started and that construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year with an anticipated duration of 60 to 72 months. Councilmember Weich, who chairs the Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee, described the ordinance as necessary to continue contracting with Hazen Sawyer for construction administration and oversight.

The ordinance makes the project contingent on loan approval from the Ohio Water Development Authority for portions of the funding and authorizes a portion of the project’s expenditures from the water pollution control loan fund and sanitary bond funds. Council members had no additional questions before moving the ordinance for passage.

If the loan contingency and procurement proceed as planned, the city expects the plant to expand Columbus’ water supply capacity and improve long-term reliability, officials said. The council’s action authorizes continued oversight and associated contract modifications that city staff say are necessary to manage the scope and cost of the multiyear program.