East Sprague Work Water-Main Replacement Will Affect Traffic Flow Into November

An aging riveted steel water main will be replaced along East Sprague Avenue starting next month.

The $2.1 million project involves digging up a 24-inch-diameter pipe that dates to the turn of the century. New pipe designed to last longer than the existing pipe will be installed.

Work is scheduled to start Aug. 21 at Hatch Street to Perry through Sept. 15. After that, crews will extend the project eastward to within 100 feet of Havana.

The work will cause traffic restrictions on East Sprague through mid-November, when completion is expected. One lane in each direction will be kept open through work areas.

City public works employees are checking with businesses along the route to make sure the job won’t interfere with access.

A meeting is being arranged for mid-August to go over details of traffic planning with neighboring property owners and businesses.

Business and property owners will be notified of the meeting by mail, said Ken Brown, design engineer.

Ductile iron pipe is being used for the replacement main. Larger 30-inch-diameter pipe is going in on the east end of the project, while a 24-inch pipe will be installed on the west end.

A larger pipe at the east end of the project will improve efficiency to the customers served by the main, Brown said.

“The whole system will work a lot better,” he said.

Ductile iron pipe is less brittle than cast iron but has good corrosion resistance similar to cast iron. The interior of the pipe is coated with mortar.

Replacing the pipe will eliminate the possibility of a pipe rupture, which could cause substantial damage to property around a break, he said.

Sections of the water main over two small bridges at Sprague Way and Erie Street will not be replaced. Those parts of the main were upgraded about 30 years ago.

Most of the excavation will be done on the north side of Sprague. Several feeder lines will be replaced where they join the new main.

As part of the job, the city is planning a full resurfacing of the bumpy pavement between Napa and Regal. The city is also installing a conduit to carry communication lines.

Public works employees are trying to make sure the traffic restrictions do not hamper access to Playfair Race Course near Sprague and Altamont and the Pepsi-Cola plant at 4014 E. Sprague.

The Sprague and Freya intersection will be kept open during the work.

MORE INFORMATION Where to call Design Engineer Ken Brown said business owners who have questions or concerns about the upcoming Sprague water-main project should contact him before work starts. He can be reached at City Hall at 625-6300. After construction begins, calls should be made to Eldon Brown, construction management engineer for the city, at 625-7722.