Martin City to get new water mains

Well over a mile of aging break-prone cast iron water mains in the Martin City area will be replaced with new and larger 8-inch ductile iron pipes this year as specified by a $1.4 million contract with Blue Nile Contractors approved July 18 by the City Council.

The work will include replacing 6-inch cast iron pipe (CIP) along Blue Ridge Blvd. from 129^th St. to 131^st St, replacing 6-inch CIP along Holmes Rd. from 122^nd Ter. to 124^th St., replacing 4-inch CIP along Virginia from 129^th Ter. to 130^th St., replacing 4-inch CIP along 129^th St. from Blue Ridge Blvd. to Garfield and replacing 4-inch CIP along 130^th St. from Tracy to Blue Ridge Blvd.

It also will include replacing about 270 feet of 2-inch pipe along a private drive that serves several Mission Lake townhomes with odd-numbered addresses from 12337 to 12365 Charlotte.  (A 2-inch water line is not large enough to even power a fire hose.) 

The pipe replacement should start within a few months, and all work including site restoration should be completed by spring, according to Kirk Rome, manager of the distribution system section of the Water Services Department.  The project will reduce water line breaks, increase system capacity and provide better fire protection.

A meeting with adjacent residents will be scheduled before construction starts.