Virginia American Water will embark next week on a six-month, $3 million water main replacement project affecting six street segments in Alexandria.
The project will replace 5,000 feet of aging four-inch and six-inch cast iron pipes at the end of their lifespan with modern eight-inch ductile iron pipe. The water main replacement and associated street restoration is expected to wrap in September, with contractor Utilities Unlimited working 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“This project’s objective is to modernize existing water mains to help improve service reliability and increase water flows for household use and firefighting,” VAW said in a press release today (Friday).
Work will impact these areas, according to the release.
- Cedar Street (King Street to Commonwealth Avenue)
- Commonwealth Avenue (West Linden Street to Sunset Drive)
- King Street (West Rosemont Avenue to Russell Road)
- Sunset Drive (King Street to Commonwealth Avenue)
- West Linden Street (Russell Road to Commonwealth Avenue)
- West Rosemont Avenue (King Street to Commonwealth Avenue)
VAW said the contractor will try to keep one traffic lane open during construction hours in the affected areas.
Construction noise is unavoidable, but the utility said the work will not affect access to residents’ homes and driveways. Residents are advised to follow traffic control and “no parking” signage posted by the city.
Customers may experience temporary interruptions to service, discolored water and/or lower than normal water pressure, VAW said.
Charles Piekanski, vice president of operations at VAW, said in the release that the utility is investing in the city’s future.
“We continue to strategically invest and make improvements in our system’s long-term infrastructure,” Piekanski said.
