Some Laurel residents can expect to see improvements in their sewer and water systems as a result of extensive work in two locations. Currently, the city is undertaking a project to replace the sewer and water lines and services on south 16th Avenue from Queen Street to Hwy. 11 and on Martin Luther King Avenue from Chantilly Street to East 20th St. Water and sewer services refers to the pipes that join the residence to the main line. In addition to these changes, the city will complete storm drainage work, install new meters, and place new asphalt on the streets. Some parts of these location will also receive curb and gutter work and sidewalk improvements.
Much of the sanitary sewer pipework will be completely replaced but the parts that are not, will be rehabilitated. The rehabbing process involves installing a new cured-in-place liner in the pipe and curing it- essentially ensuring that the inside of the pipe is new. The new water pipes will be larger diameter pipes to increase flow and to increase water pressure in homes in the area.
According to Brent Quick of Neel-Schaffer, much of the current pipework is estimated to be from the 1950s or 60s and has expended its life. “It’s definitely time to make that upgrade at both locations,” he said.
Suez, the company contracted by the city to maintain sewer and water system, has received several complaints about water pressure and a lack of sewage drainage in both locations, Quick explained. “We are hoping to increase the water pressure and the sewage drainage,” he said.
As a part of the process, traffic near these areas has been temporarily redirected. However, T.L. Wallace, the contractor performing the construction, reported that the road closure on south 16th Avenue should end and the road is expected to be reopened to through traffic around the first week of November. Work at the Martin Luther King Avenue site is expected be completed next spring.
