Riverbend names program head for regional project

NEW BOSTON, Texas - Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc. will manage the development of the proposed $200 million regional water system to many cities in Bowie and Red River counties, an official said.

The new water system, which will be constructed on TexAmericas Center property, will provide long-term water supply, increasing municipal demands of Riverbend Water Resources District's member cities and economic growth in Northeast Texas, according to Riverbend officials.

Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc. is a fully integrated program management and civil engineering firm that is based in Texas and has provided professional consulting services for water resources, transportation, environmental, surveying, GIS, and land development projects since 1965.

Riverbend sought requests for qualifications for a project manager in early January. Of the three firms submitting proposals, Pape-Dawson was chosen, Kyle Dooley, Riverbend executive director/CEO told the Gazette.

"It was their approach to the project, their presentation and the timelines. It matched up well with how we thought it would unfold," Dooley said, adding the expected completion date is 2026.

Riverbend and Pape-Dawson have a two-year agreement with four additional renewal options of one year each, Dooley said.

The firm will do about 30% of the project's engineering design, right of way acquirement and environmental clearance for the water intake line from Lake Wright Patman, Dooley said.

The project also includes a new raw water intake structure to be constructed at Lake Wright Patman. There would also be a new raw water transmission line from the proposed intake structure to the proposed water treatment facility.

With multi-year financing from the Texas Water Development Board through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the new water system will increase treatment capacity in a maintainable and expandable manner to better serve Riverbend members.

Riverbend's member cities include: Annona, Atlanta, Avery, DeKalb, Hooks, Leary, Maud, Nash, New Boston, Redwater, Texarkana, Wake Village, TexAmericas Center, Central Bowie County Water Supply Corporation, Oak Grove Water Supply Corporation as well as Bowie, Cass and Red River counties.

The cost of the agreement with Pape-Dawson is not a flat rate and has several different considerations, Dooley said.

Riverbend and Pape-Dawson "will work hand-in-hand to increase program efficiency and to engage our member entities and stakeholders to deliver a successful water system to the region," said Sonja Yates Hubbard, Riverbend board chairman, in a press release.

"The new proposed regional water system would replace the current water treatment facility located on New Boston Road in Texarkana. The new water treatment facility will provide increased treatment capacity over the current treatment plant," officials said in a statement.

The New Boston Road water treatment plant currently draws water from Wright Patman, then treats and distributes the water. It was constructed in 1957 and expanded in 1971 and treats 18 million gallons of water per day.

Located near other Riverbend facilities on TexAmericas properties, the new plant would also be expandable.

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