Quincy Tim Keppner, the project manager for Rees Construction, informed Muddy River News on Tuesday that the first phase of the water line replacement project along Broadway between 12th and 24th Streets is on track to be finished by Friday, August 1.
In preparation for our traffic control contractor’s arrival the following Monday to start phase two setup, we will be removing barricades off Broadway and placing them along the sidewalk.
The work on Broadway between 24th and 30th Streets is still scheduled to begin on August 4. Phase two is still scheduled to be finished by early October.
Testing the new water main has been one of the most difficult tasks thus far.
People observed a two to three week period during which a lot of work was not done, Keppner added, because of the large amount of debris that is brought up, the dusty road, and everything else. This is a result of the difficulties in passing the water main. The bacterial test was successful. We are currently making our way to the finish line.
To keep the pace of work on track, the initial timeline built in wiggle room for issues like this.
According to Keppner, you never know what you’re going to encounter when working with infrastructure that has been around for more than a century.
The discovery of a mystery source coming into the water main caused some surprise and might necessitate more effort and cost.
Currently, the old main that we were meant to discard is seeing some back pressure. It’s possible that there is some unidentified mapping or that a line is feeding into the current 20-inch main. Before we can finish the cap and cut off the water main at 12th Street, we need to conduct some additional research after 18th Street is opened.
Therefore, Broadway between 12th and 24th will be open by the end of Friday. However, after crews begin phase two on the 12th, work at the old water main may restart.
According to Keppner, we have no idea what kind of animal we are dealing with. This problem can be the result of something that was done fifty or sixty years ago but was never recorded. It’s possible that we’ll reappear in September or early October, blocking further Broadway lanes.
Jeffrey Conte, the director of public works for the city of Quincy, acknowledged the need for further research but was unsure of a mystery line.
It’s not an unmapped flow, in my opinion. He told MRN that there might be a valve that wasn’t closed. When there is less traffic, the valves will be examined.
Keppner appealed to drivers urgently as the second phase got underway.
“Avoid Broadway at all costs,” he said. Having to work on a really busy street is difficult enough. Especially when rude individuals drive through our construction zones. Show respect to the men that are out there working. We want to get off the road as quickly as we can.
For a few weeks, 24th Street immediately south of Broadway will be closed, Keppner stated.
Additionally, a new water service for Prairie Farms Dairy will be completed on the north side of Broadway.
Laverdiere Construction, a Macomb-based construction partner, begins work at 30th Street and heads west to meet Rees at 27th Street.
Although eastbound traffic will need to become used to using what would normally be the turn lane, this water main work will resemble the traffic control of phase one.
Broadway will not provide access to a number of establishments on the south side of Broadway. In order to assist the owners in organizing other routes for their employees and clients, Rees spoke with them.
Alerts have already been issued on the Facebook site of Cassano’s Pizza & Subs, located near 27th and Broadway.
They offered maps showing various routes to them and reduced the delivery fee from $3 to $1.
According to Michael Armitage, general manager and owner of Cassano’s, you have to roll with the punches. Our goal is to ensure the safety of both our employees and clients. All we’re doing is posting to inform everyone that this is a residential area. Particularly now that school has begun, use caution and keep an eye out for children.
Some of the driveways will remain available, according to Rees, but access to the south side driveways may be impacted for a while as water main construction moves forward.
Keppner suggested, “We ask the public that needs to access these businesses to look at alternative routes.” Avoid going on Broadway.
On the other hand, some firms only have one entry or exit.
Keppen assured that we would attempt to plan far enough ahead of time to notify them that we would be entering and that they would no longer have driveway access.
Compared to phase one, when workmen had to cope with lines as large as 20 inches, Conte thinks this phase should be simpler.
Six-inch pipe, which is speedier, will be used in the following phase.
Then there’s the upcoming bidding process for repaving Broadway.
According to Keppner, Quincy can anticipate seeing concrete crews when the water main installation is completed.
Over the next few years, Broadway construction will continue. As a result, Broadway has been repaved and is now a compliant road with ADA access.
