KANSAS CITY, MO — (Marketwire) — 09/17/12 — Construction is underway for a new wastewater-treatment system in southwestern Johnson County, Kan., a $16 million project designed to provide cost-effective service and enable growth in two communities while meeting demands of a massive new intermodal freight hub 25 miles southwest of Kansas City.
The system will be capable of handling up to 500,000 gallons per day, a total that could rise with future expansions enabled — at low installed costs — by the new design.
“This project is all about partnerships,” said Jeff Keller, project manager for Burns & McDonnell. “We–re all working together to provide the best value and service for everyone involved.”
Burns & McDonnell and CAS Constructors LLC are partnering to provide design-build services for the project, which includes design and construction of the Big Bull Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility and entire collection system. The plant will occupy about 6 acres strategically located at the southwest corner of Interstate 35 and Homestead Lane, a site just outside of Edgerton and within reach of nearby Gardner.
The new plant and associated pump stations, force mains and pipelines will address long-standing sewer needs in both Edgerton and Gardner, by boosting sewer reliability for current residents and accommodating anticipated demand from expected commercial, institutional and residential growth.
Working with Burns & McDonnell and CAS Constructors through a design-build process gives the two communities the best path to a successful project. Early on, the combined project team worked together to expand the project–s scope and add partners to achieve optimal efficiencies for all involved.
Now in the construction phase, the project–s familiar partners are busy translating their close and continuing cooperation into tangible results. That means crews working safely, ahead of schedule and under budget.
“The design isn–t the end of our project, and construction isn–t the beginning,” said Mike Hafling, president of CAS Constructors. “We–re all involved, and engaged, every step of the way. Construction/design-build does what it–s supposed to do: deliver the best project as quickly and efficiently as possible. Our expectation is to exceed our clients– expectations.”
The new plant will be capable of handling an average daily flow of 500,000 gallons. It will treat the wastewater using several treatment processes, including screens for large debris, biological processes for nutrients, filters for phosphorus and ultraviolet for disinfection. For residual solids, the plant will rely upon aerobic digestion, storage and thickening, and dewatering via centrifuge. The collection system will include three lift stations, two force mains (8,500 feet total), two gravity interceptors (5,800 feet total), and a pipe 42 inches in diameter that crosses under I-35.
The project also will satisfy an immediate need: serving the new Burlington Northern Santa Fe Intermodal Facility and adjacent Logistics Park KC, a combined 1,000-acre complex that will allow for the unloading of freight delivered by rail between Los Angeles and Chicago, plus provide room for up to 7.1 million square feet of warehouse space and distribution centers.
Edgerton is responsible for providing sewer service to the combined complex. Welcoming Gardner into the project enables both communities to meet their own long-term needs faster, and at lower cost, than by planning, designing and installing their own separate systems.
“The Big Bull Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility is a cooperative project that benefits both cities and all of southwest Johnson County,” said Beth Linn, city administrator for Edgerton. “The partnership with Gardner helped both cities be good stewards of their taxpayers– dollars due to tremendous cost savings.”
“The Big Bull Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility is a unique opportunity to develop infrastructure needed by both jurisdictions,” said Cheryl Harrison-Lee, city administrator for Gardner. “Partnering with the City of Edgerton in lieu of expanding existing City of Gardner wastewater facilities is a significant cost savings. The additional capacity allows the city of Gardner to be in a better position to serve existing and future residents.”
Burns & McDonnell, based in Kansas City, Mo., and CAS, based in Topeka, Kan., have completed nearly two dozen projects using the design-build delivery method, regularly combining efficient and effective designs with cost-effective construction to meet client needs.
Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is a 100 percent employee-owned, full-service engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting services firm. Burns & McDonnell is currently the 23rd largest AEC firm in the Engineering News-Record top 500 ranking. With the multi-disciplinary experience of more than 3,700 professionals in more than 30 regional, national and international offices, Burns & McDonnell plans, designs, permits, constructs and manages facilities worldwide with one mission in mind — to make our clients successful. For more information, visit .
CAS Constructors LLC specializes in constructing water treatment facilities using the design-build method. It is a division of Alberici Corporation, a major North American construction firm serving the energy, building, healthcare, heavy industrial, manufacturing, water, and automotive industries. Alberici, with revenue of more than $1 billion in 2011, was ranked the 59th-largest contractor in the United States by Engineering News-Record. Please visit or .
For more information, contact:
Roger Dick:
816-822-3339