The water line project that will bring public water to the county airport and parts of Route 8 is going swimmingly, according to those involved.

“It's moving forward,” said Kim Geyer, county commissioner and a member of the airport board. “We're really excited.”

In fact, Matthew Cranmer, manager of the Municipal Water Authority of Adams Township, said the scope of the project has grown in size while shrinking in cost.

Specifically, the original 38,000-foot line is now about 40,000 feet, and the estimated cost of $5.2 million was bid out at $5.1 million to JR Contracting.

Work may begin as early as next week, according to Cranmer.

The line will be over seven miles long, running up Route 8 from Overbrook Road in Middlesex Township to Larchwood Drive in Penn Township, with an extension to the airport via Airport Road.

“We anticipate the entire project to be done in nine months,” Cranmer said.

He added that time schedule will become clearer as work progresses.

Cranmer expects Route 8 traffic will see some lane alterations while work is completed.

The roots of the project date back to 2017. At that time, Geyer said county leaders were looking for a “pathway” toward getting public water to the airport.

Talks in 2018 began to include the water authority.

With the groundwork in place before the pandemic, Geyer said the parties involved were able to continue moving things forward.

Geyer said to that end, the county is planning to incur $187,000 associated with about a roughly 0.25-mile stretch of the 40,000-foot line that will connect additional parts of the airport.

While plans aren't finalized, Geyer indicated that may come from the county's American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allotment.

The Eagle previously reported the project will be financed through the county infrastructure bank, with Middlesex Township pledging $500,000 toward laying lines.

However, Middlesex Township manager Adam Hartwig said that's not the case.

“Middlesex Township has not committed any funds to the project,” Hartwig said.

“There's no written agreement,” Geyer confirmed this week.

That doesn't mean the township doesn't support the line.

“Middlesex Township supports the water line expansion to the airport,” Hartwig said. “We also support developer-driven infrastructure.”

The line will provide an option for nearby residents and businesses to tap into public water, according to Cranmer.

But this isn't a requirement. Neither Penn nor Middlesex townships have mandatory water tap-in ordinances.

Linda Zerfoss, Penn Township manager, said township leaders want the decision to be optional for those near the line.

“We did not want to force residents to get the water,” Zerfoss said. “It's totally up to them.”

“It's certainly well within their rights to not connect,” Hartwig said.

Hartwig explained the water line will work to increase property value for those affected by the installation, regardless of whether they chose to tap in.

That's one of the benefits of “stretching” infrastructure, according to Hartwig.

“It's there now,” Hartwig said. “They will all be able to benefit one day from stretching the infrastructure.”

The project overall won't just contribute to current underpinnings, according to Geyer. It's laying the groundwork for future growth.

For instance, Cranmer said the line is expected to have 38 hydrants on it that will provide additional water sources for nearby fire departments.

“It's an investment,” Geyer said. “It will never be more feasible than it is now.”

“It is a huge community project,” Cranmer said. “We're really happy to be working with the county.”