NorCo's Capital Projects Update

Public Works Director Mike Emili updated Northampton County Council yesterday on the status of several capital projects.

Forensic Center - A Notice To Proceed was issued 9/13. Exterior footings and foundation walls have all been poured. The building pad has been backfilled, brought up to grade and compacted. Underground plumbing, electrical utilities and interior footings are currently being installed. Structural Steel will begin erection in March. This project is still on track for substantial completion by September. Administrator Charles Dertinger said he had to cart in 15,000 tons of dirt for water retention. Hope he did not get his bowtie dirty.

Wolf Avenue Parking Lot (former Milides Building). - Work began in November. Most of the site grading has been done by Bean Contracting. Currently working on an underground water detention system, which will be connected to City sewer on Washington Street. Bank will be shored up. Will be putting in a retention wall after excavating ashes. Executive Lamont McClure previously said he wanted to finish this project before the snow fell. 

Crosswalk from Wolf Avenue Parking Lot - Michael Baker International has designed a plan that includes a rapid flashing beacon, a bumped out curve and push buttons for pedestrians. Emili predicted "drastic improvements" to a dangerous crossing. 

Roof replacement - lower section of new courthouse. Scheduled for Spring. Should take one month.

Cooling tower - courthouse annex. design work in progress. $250,000

Gracedale bathroom floors in tower. Just received DOH approval. Putting out to bid.

Gracedale nurse call system - being installed at main building. Cabling work has begun. Complete this summer.

Norbath Trail - Resurfacing between Jacksonville and Weaversville Rds in April or May.

Louise Moore Park- new maintenance facility being designed. It's a simple pole barn, but bids are too high.

Prison generator. - will arrive mid-April.

911 parking lot - taking a beating during construction of Forensic Center. Will be resurfaced after forensic center is done.

The GESA (guaranteed energy savings agreement) with McClure Co. (no relation to Executive Lamont McClure) was negotiated in 2011. This permitted capital upgrades to HVAC and other systems that generated energy savings, which in turn financed the cost of the upgrades. This Agreement included a 15 year maintenance agreement, and County is in year nine. It is being renegotiated to an "as needed basis." Savings at Gracedale are $827,000 over six years. Savings at the courthouse are $503,000 over six years.

County Bridges

Bridge 115 - Mill Street, Bath. Completed in December and open. Minor punch list items

Bridge 225 - Laurel Hill Rd, Lower Mt Bethel Tp. Engineering contract awarded to Carroll Engineering.

Bridge 8 - Kressman Rd, Williams Tp. - working with PEMA and FEMA to nail down scope of work. and get disaster relief reimbursement. An RFP has been issued for engineering services. Due back March 5.

Bridge 143, Glase Rd, Moore Tp, 3-arch masonry bridge. Being repaired. Stabilizedc and grouted all three arches. rebuilding stone walls so bridge retains some of its historic character. Installing arch liners. Nearing completion.

Closed Bridges.  Bridge 31 in Lower Mt Bethel is scheduled for 2029 and closed . Closed.
Meadows Bridge in Lower Saucon in scheduled for 2026.

Council membeer John Cusick suggested pressuring State Senators and State Reps. "Some people call it pork, we call it necessary transportation funding," said Cusick.

P3 Project - 33 bridges were part of the original agreement. The General Purpose Authority wants to remove 8, making 25 bridges in total. Currently, 4 bridges are in the in maintenance period, 8 are under construction, 7 in design phase, and 6 bridges given notice to proceed.