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The City of Williamsport has advanced a levee rehabilitation project with a construction contract awarded for electrical systems at several pump stations.
In partnership with SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) the city reached another major milestone in its ongoing levee rehabilitation efforts with City Council approving the award of the $1.6 million construction contract for electrical upgrades at the levee pump stations to Lecce Electric, Inc.
This will be for the electrical systems and power backup facilities, said Bill Scott, city engineer.
This is paid for using the $8 million federal earmark, he said.
The action represents an important transition from planning, engineering, and procurement into construction for improvements being advanced through the city's fiscal year 2023 Legislative Pre-Disaster Mitigation (LPDM) project.
The electrical improvements are part of a broader effort to address critical components of what is known as the Greater Williamsport flood protection system and support the long-term resiliency of the city and surrounding communities such as Old Lycoming and Loyalsock townships and South Williamsport.
The city, working in partnership with SEDA-COG and Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (GPI), completed a competitive procurement process for the electrical improvements.
A mandatory pre-bid meeting was held July 1 with three contractors in attendance, followed by a public bid opening on July 14, at which three bids were received.
Following review of the bids, GPI recommended Lecce Electric, Inc. for the award.
With council's approval, the city and its project partners can proceed with contract execution and coordination of construction activities.
The electrical improvements are one of several levee rehabilitation activities advancing concurrently. Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc. (WTI) is also moving forward with roof replacement work at the city's pump stations, while AECOM continues engineering coordination related to other elements of the levee system.
AECOM recently met with representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to discuss the proposed relief well testing strategy and establish continued technical coordination as the project advances.
AECOM is preparing a written proposal outlining the recommended testing approach for review by the City, SEDA-COG, and USACE.
"This is an exciting milestone because we are beginning to see years of planning and coordination translate into tangible improvements to the levee system," said Valerie Fessler, Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Williamsport. "These improvements are critical not only to protecting our residents and businesses, but also to supporting the long-term economic strength and resiliency of the Greater Williamsport region."
Since receiving its fully executed FY2023 LPDM grant agreement in November 2025, the city has worked in tandem with SEDA-COG and its project partners to move the project forward.
In less than a year, the city has completed competitive procurement of engineering and construction oversight consultants, advanced multiple project components, coordinated with state and federal agencies, and moved the first major construction package toward implementation.
The city and SEDA-COG are also preparing for the anticipated FY2024 LPDM project, which will support additional flood protection improvements in South Williamsport and will be administered by the city.
Moreover, the city continues to work with Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state and federal elected officials, and Keller Partners of Washington, D.C. to obtain outstanding federal and state documentation needed to maintain the momentum of both projects.
"This project demonstrates what can happen when local, regional, state and federal partners work together toward a common goal," said Betsy Kramer, Director of Community Revitalization at SEDA-COG. "There is still significant work ahead, but the progress made over the past several months has positioned Williamsport extremely well as these critical improvements move into construction."
Additional project updates will be provided as construction activities advance.
The Williamsport levee system provides critical flood protection for residents, businesses, infrastructure, and a total estimated $5 billion in economic assets throughout the Greater Williamsport area.
The current rehabilitation initiative is advancing improvements necessary to strengthen the system, address identified infrastructure needs, and support its long-term reliability and resiliency.
SEDA-COG is a community and economic development agency in Lewisburg and is one of seven Local Development Districts in Pennsylvania.
SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in the 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives.