Rendering of Willow Lane Pump Station.

The new Willow Lane Pump Station designed by McCrone to serve the Town of LaPlata has an unexpected old southern "charm" about it. This pump station not only is functional in its 2.5 MGD capacity serving over 5,300 area residents, but also has an aesthetic appeal in its location near the new Heritage Green subdivision entrance. The exterior building resembles an old Southern Maryland barn, complete with weather vane on top.

   The Willow Lane Pump Station and Sanitary Sewer Upgrade was originally three separate projects. Since the project was accepted for the American Relief and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, the Town chose to consolidate the three projects under one construction contract and awarded the wetwell/drywell pump station contract to McCrone.

   The McCrone team met the aggressive schedule to have the project ready for bidding, acceptance, and start of construction by the required date. McCrone also provided bidding service and prepared all the procurement documents needed to satisfy the requirements for both ARRA and the Maryland Revolving Loan Program.

   The pump station is designed to serve a new 3170-lot residential subdivision, elementary school, and approximately 1,500,000 square feet of industrial/commercial/retail space. This facility can also accommodate a future odor control system if needed.  

It is interesting to note that during construction of the 40-foot basement for the pump station, the contractor had to install two huge I-beams across the width of the excavation so the soil pressure would not collapse the hole. All the concrete walls were poured with the I-beams in place, then they were cut out after the concrete had cured. 

   In addition to McCrone's expertise, the uniqueness of this project required collaboration among several firms including Loiederman Soltesz Associates, Inc., Lawrence Abell & Associates, Ltd., Hartwell Engineering, Inc., and Columbia Engineering, Inc.