Almost 1 year behind schedule, College Township odor control facility project complicated by COVID-19
The University Area Joint Authority’s new odor control facility is nearly one year behind schedule, and with COVID-19 causing delays, there’s no telling when the $10 million project will reach completion.
The statewide shutdown temporarily paused all work on the new facility, but in a May 15 update, UAJA announced that work on the project has resumed. Due to schedule changes, the contractor, Global Heavy, does not have a firm completion date on the College Township project.
“At this time, the exhaust from the compost facility is being treated by the new odor control system, and current construction activities are centered on tying in the dewatering facility to the new odor facility,” the update said.
UAJA said staff continues to be in “constant contact” with engineers and the contractor to ensure the project is completed “as soon as possible,” according to the update.
In 2018, UAJA announced that the construction project would address a particularly unpleasant smell created by a biofilter that worked to reduce odors created by the compost facility. With an initial anticipated July 2019 completion date, the project deadline was extended to mid-October, November, January and mid-February.
UAJA Executive Director Cory Miller said there have been no odor complaints since February. The air from the compost facility is passing through the odor control facility, but air from the dewatering facility is not, Miller said.
Once complete, the new facility will include a completely contained concrete box. The dewatering and compost facilities will be piped to the new facility. Once the air has been deodorized, it will be sent through an exhaust tower and released into the atmosphere, but the system will need to run for a few weeks for the biological process to begin.
Project delays were the result of weather conditions and material delivery problems. Global Heavy has faced a number of challenges while working to complete the project and could face financial penalties due to the missed deadlines.
Last June, Miller said the contract with Global Heavy allows for UAJA to seek liquidated damages caused by project delays. UAJA will decide whether to pursue those after the project is completed.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 12:18 PM.
