CRANBERRY TWP — The township supervisors Thursday night authorized seeking bids for the Brush Creek Water Pollution Control Facility expansion project.

There are four bids for a general contractor, electrical contractor, heating and air conditioning contractor and plumbing contractor.

The bid for the general contractor is estimated to cost roughly $36.2 million, with electrical about $5.7 million, HVAC about $889,000 and plumbing $157,000.

The township expects to open the bids in February and have construction begin in June, said Tim Schutzman, waterworks coordinator with the township.

The work is expected to be completed in mid-2019.

The township’s cost for the project will be about $41 million. Marshall Township will contribute about $7 million to the project since it uses the same sewage plant.

The total cost will be about $48 million.

In July, the supervisors approved a $32 million bond to pay for the improvements. They also increased the sewer rates from $7.16 to $7.98 per thousand gallons of water, which took effect Oct. 20. This will cost the average ratepayer $4.10 more a month.

Township manager Jerry Andree said the project is on schedule and on budget.