Jim Thorpe Borough Council this month approved a $2.57 million construction bid submitted by Pact One LLC as it moves forward with a major water main replacement project along Center Avenue.

The bid, which borough officials said came in below the engineer’s estimate, includes a resurfacing alternate and is part of a PENNVEST loan-funded infrastructure upgrade.

Background information provided by the borough confirms that the new 5,800-foot water main will replace two aging lines with a modern 8-inch ductile iron pipe, including 111 services and nine hydrants.

“The project … will replace outdated infrastructure to benefit residents of the borough by improving the overall water supply system,” Councilman Connor Rodgers stated in an earlier announcement.

A bid opening held in late March identified Pact One LLC as the low bidder for the construction contract.

“We’ve worked with them before on other projects and they do a great job,” Matt Boggs of Entech Engineering said.

Council last week also approved an ordinance authorizing $4.25 million in PENNVEST debt.

“That loan amount most likely will be adjusted downward, but we did the ordinance to cover the high amount,” Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said at April’s council workshop session.

The PENNVEST loan comes with a low interest rate structure.

“It’s 1% for the first five years, and then it goes to 1.73%,” Sterner said.

The loan term is for 23 years.

The borough is currently awaiting confirmation from PennDOT regarding its resurfacing plans for Center Avenue.

“PennDOT said they were going to do the resurfacing of that road in 2026,” Boggs said. “That work has to be done as part of the highway occupancy permit for this project but we’re hopeful PennDOT will take that on.”

The borough is also considering how to handle sidewalk and curb improvements along Center Avenue. The bid includes unit pricing for these items, which could allow residents to contract for improvements at a set rate. However, council leaned toward encouraging rather than mandating such upgrades.

“I would say encourage,” Council President Greg Strubinger said. “I don’t think I would mandate that.”

A pre-construction meeting is scheduled for June.