MARION — State funds totaling $425,000 have been reserved for the Creek Road Pump Station reconstruction project as part of an amendment to the American Rescue Plan Act relief bill filed last week by State Rep. William Straus, D-Mattapoisett.

The project, which has an estimated total cost of $2.5 to $3 million, proposes to replace the entire existing pump station, which is deteriorating and difficult to access, according to a news release provided by Straus and Town Administrator James McGrail 

The relief bill that includes the pump station was passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives last week, the news release said.

“Reconstructing the pump station with a more functional design will have a significant benefit to the town by improving resiliency, protecting public health, improving worker safety and reducing considerable maintenance costs,” McGrail said.

The existing Creek Road Pump Station is a critical component of the Marion sewer system, serving approximately half of the town by area, according to the release. 

The station consists of two buried structures, one housing critical pumping and electrical equipment and the other a wet well used for flow storage prior to pumping.

The Creek Road Pump Station was built in the early 1970s and is deficient because the equipment is deteriorating and is difficult to access, operate and maintain. This requires extensive maintenance outside of what is regularly scheduled, the release said.   

The station is subject to failures because its location is susceptible to flooding and does not meet current resilience and safety related design standards, the release said.

The reconstruction project proposes to replace the existing pump station in its entirety. 

The new station will be built in the same location as the current station and will be safe and easy to maintain, resilient against flooding and designed to substantially reduce the risk and impacts of system failure, the release said.

The new station is designed to withstand anticipated flooding due to changes in sea level and storm intensity through 2080. 

The design consists of a below-grade wet well that is capable of prolonged submersion and an elevated structure above the design flood elevation to safeguard critical non-submersible components, the release said.

The structure will be elevated on concrete columns that are designed to withstand storm surges and impact from floating debris.

“There are many known issues with the Creek Road Pump Station that require significant maintenance, and the risk of flooding and storm damage to our community has continued to grow and will certainly continue to affect the infrastructure of the station,’’ McGrail said. 

According to the release, the town is working to identify and pursue additional state and federal funding opportunities to help fund the project.

The bill including the Creek Road Pump Station project must still pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Charlie Baker.