By Dan Miner/minerd@gnnewspaper.com
Niagara Gazette
September 26, 2007 06:03 pm
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The Town of Lewiston is set to start the first in a series of capital projects aimed at updated its aging infrastructure.
A $1.6 million project along portions of Mountain View Drive, Woodland Drive and Forest Road was passed unanimously at Monday’s Town Board meeting. The money will go towards replacing the town’s oldest water lines — which were installed more than 100 years ago — and replacing them with new, wider pipes to increase water flow.
Old water lines can affect water pressure for emergency situations such as fighting fires, Councilman Michael Johnson said. They can also cause breaks, in which case the town must purchase water from elsewhere until it can fix it.
It’s also part of a drive to check for infrastructure needs before a road is replaced, Johnson said.
“I’ve been harping on this since day one,” he said. “Before we fix a road, let’s make sure about the pipes in the ground.”
Town Supervisor Fred Newlin said that the project will be funded in whole by funds secured during the New York Power Authority relicensing process, and that residents will not see an increase on their bills.
“For the next project we’ll do after this one, we’ll do a step-by-step analysis of the water abilities in town,” Newlin said. “In the last few years, the town has taken a more comprehensive approach to infrastructure.”
The project consists of replacing about 10,000 feet of water line, said Town Engineer Robert Lannon. Town crews will replace about 200 feet of water line per day and then fill it back in as they go.
Time lines for such projects are elusive because they are weather dependent, but it should begin in either October or November, Newlin said.
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