LINCOLNTON––The Riverbend Water and Sewer Main Extension Project is progressing apace.

At its Monday regular meeting (also a joint meeting with the Lincoln County Planning Board), the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners heard from county engineer Jonathan Drazenovich of the Lincoln County Public Works Department.

Located just east of Denver, the Riverbend community––an area of rolling hills, woods and farmland––straddles Lincoln and Gaston counties. It overlaps with the rural Lowesville area along NC-16.

The Riverbend Water and Sewer Main Extension Project consists of some 36,000 linear feet of 12-inch water main, 14,300 linear feet of 12-inch sewer force main, 9,400 linear feet of 16-inch sewer force main and a duplex pump station capable of handling 860 gallons per minute. The Riverbend Project has been granted the necessary permits and approvals to go into the bid phase. The current schedule for bid of the project is advertisement on Sept. 16; a pre-bid meeting on Oct. 2; and opening of the bids on Oct. 24.

Drazenovich informed the commissioners that his department is slated to present them with an approved bid at the board’s Dec. 1 meeting. He added that most of the proper permitting is now in place, with the one exception being the gas company, re the gas main. The County is working with multiple gas companies, Drazenovich informed, in order to ensure that their facilities are protected and that the County is able to install its own.

He continued that easements are being pursued, and public works will come back to the commissioners in the event of any issues with said easements. Two easements thus far have been acquired, as Drazenovich told the board in response to a query. He added that talks were ongoing, re some 40 other easements and the maintenance rights-of-way for the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Drazenovich continued that eventually, once the project is completed, the County will have the rights to install and maintain water and sewer lines in the area.