A water main replacement project will close some streets on the northwest side of Great Falls.

The city contracted with Central Plumbing, Heating, Excavation to replace water mains along 13th Street Northwest, between 5th Ave Northwest and Central Avenue West.

The project is scheduled to take about two months, beginning Oct. 1.

Work will begin at 5th Avenue Northwest and progress south toward Central Avenue West, according to the city.

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13th Street Northwest between 3rd Avenue Northwest and Central Ave West will be closed Oct. 2-3 for asphalt milling operations.

Central will install barricades and detour signage to guide traffic safely around the construction zone. Access to residences, West Elementary and local businesses will remain available.

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For more information, contact Matt Proud, Senior Civil Engineer, at 406-771-1258 or Kris Liggett, Central Plumbing, Heating, Excavation at 406-231-8685.

City Commissioners awarded the contract to Central Plumbing, Heating, Excavating during their Sept. 2 meeting for $1,626,625.

The project will replace 10 blocks of aging water main that are failing with increasing frequency near West Elementary.

The main breaks are primarily due to corrosive soils, age, and type of pipe material used. The mains being replaced include cast iron and asbestos cement mains installed between 1948 and 1961, according to city public works staff.

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The water main to be replaced along 3rd Avenue Northwest includes an undersized 6-inch cast iron main installed in 1948.

Other water mains to be replaced include mains along 13th Street Northwest and 5th Avenue Northwest that were installed between 1953 and 1961. Water main breaks within the project area have occurred 18 times in the last 25 years, according to city staff.

During construction residents and businesses will need to be placed on temporary water, according to city staff.

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

The project is being funded through the city’s water fund, which is resident water fees, and will replace about 3,500 lineal feet of cast iron and asbestos water mains with new PVC water mains, four fire hydrants, 32 water service connections, 2,400 square yards of gravel and 3,100 square yards of asphalt pavement.

Project locations include:

• 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