City Commissioners approved a $1.6 million contract to Central Plumbing, Heating and Excavating during their Sept. 2 meeting for the first phase of the northside water main replacement project.

The project will replace 10 blocks of aging undersized water main, totalling about 3,500 lineal feet, near West Elementary and is scheduled to start this fall and be complete in the spring.

Water mains in the area are failing with increasing frequency, according to city staff, due to corrosive soils, age and type of pipe material used.

There have been 18 water main breaks over the last 25 years in the project area, according to staff.

Portion of Fox Farm Road closed for water main repair

The mains are made of cast iron and asbestos cement and were installed between 1948 and 1961, according to staff.

The water main being replaced along 3rd Avenue Northwest includes an undersized six-inch cast iron main that was installed in 1948.

Mains being replaced along 13th Street Northwest and 5th Avenue Northwest were installed between 1953 and 1961.

City repairs water main break near Chowen Springs Park; repairing sewer line in Gibson Park

The project includes replacing the 3,500 lineal feet of cast iron and asbestos mains with new PVC mains, including four fire hydrants, 32 water service connections, 2,400 square yards of gravel and 3,100 square yards of asphalt at:

• 13th Street Northwest from Central Avenue West to 5th Avenue Northwest
• 3rd Avenue Northwest from 13th Street Northwest to 11th Street Northwest
• 5th Avenue Northwest from 9th Street Northwest to 6th Street Northwest

During construction, residents and businesses will be placed on temporary water and traffic will be detoured around the project locations, but property access will be maintained for property owners.

City approves $2.5 million water main replacement contract [2024]

City engineering staff designed the project and will also perform construction inspection and contract administration duties.

The city received two bids ranging from $1,626,625 to $2,043,109 with Central submitting the low bid.

The project was included in the city’s public works capital improvement plan and is being funded through the water fund, which is funded through water utility fees.