A Montana company will soon replace a pair of aging water mains on Powell’s south side at a better-than-expected price.

Part of the work will take place on South Gilbert Street, where several blocks of city water line “have been a real problem,” said City Administrator Zack Thorington. “I mean, it’s old, needs updated.” 

Another line on South Division Street will also undergo an upgrade.

The two water projects were combined in an effort to draw in more bidders and save money — and that idea appears to have paid off.

Though city engineers estimated the job would cost around $718,000, Earth Movers Excavation of Laurel, Montana, submitted a low bid of $511,320. The firm’s offer was well below those from CK Civil of Cody ($654,416.50) and Meeteetse-based Western Municipal Construction of Wyoming ($726,524). Even with a 5% preference for the Wyoming firms, “it doesn’t even come close,” Thorington said.

He noted that Earth Movers recently won a separate, $338,000 bid to install a new sewer line on the southern edge of town.

“I guess they want business,” Thorington mused.

He added that Earth Movers did good work for the city last year in installing a new stormwater retention basin on the northern edge of the Northwest College campus.

The company needs to have the new water lines finished by Nov. 13.