A Bacco Construction crew works on a water and sewer project near Mountaineer Stadium in September. Work will soon resume and continue into the fall on an overall $18.4 million project that mainly covers West A, West Hughitt and East C streets. (Jim Anderson/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Work is scheduled to resume Monday, April 20, on a utility project in Iron Mountain, with Bacco Construction Co. expected to first address Walker Street.

The bulk of the overall $18.4 million project is replacement of water and sewer utilities on West A, West Hughitt and East C streets. Completion is targeted for November.

The project includes 11,900 feet of gravity sanitary sewer and 13,900 feet of water main; 426 lead water service replacements; and associated road restoration totaling about 2.5 miles.

Last fall, Bacco reconstructed the 1000 block of West A Street and the 1000 block of West Hughitt Street.

During a city council meeting Monday, City Manager Jordan Stanchina noted the Iron Mountain contractor will soon pass out lead service line replacement fliers for affected homes on West B Street. Updates on the project will be posted on the city’s Facebook page.

Bacco will try to avoid closing West Hughitt and West A streets at the same time as much as possible, Stanchina said. Work near Iron Mountain High School will likely start immediately after the school year, he added.

The water portion of the project is funded by a 40-year Michigan Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan of $10.64 million at 2% interest, plus a $2.666 million grant. The city anticipates funding the sewer portion through a $7.63 million loan from USDA Rural Development.

Construction bids were opened in June, with Bacco’s the lowest among three at $15,403,788.

Coleman Engineering Co. of Iron Mountain has charged fees not to exceed $2.17 million for designing and bidding the water project. The sewer engineering fee was not to exceed $674,000.

The city in 2025 increased water rates by 3.5% and sewer rates by 5% in anticipation of the major project. Further adjustments are expected in the years ahead as financing costs are finalized.

The DWSRF funding is awarded through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.

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Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772 ext. 85226 or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.