By Christopher Gooding
The Record
SPRINGHILL – Work to Springhill’s underground took a prominent turn, with replacements to the water and sewage lines taking shape at the corner of Main and Church.
The work is part of a $1.5 million upgrade that will see the drainage and water lines running from the bottom of Church Street to the top of Drummond Street and while the project seems invasive it will be capped with something many residents have wanted for some time: new paving.
“We will be repaving the roads and rebuilding the sidewalk, too,” Town Engineer Brian Herteis said. “It should be very nice when it is done.”
Backhoes dug down an astounding 20-plus feet to begin the work which will improve the drainage from side streets running off of Drummond and improve water services but due to delays the project will only extend to as far as Pioneer Street by November and will finish next year. Before the onset of winter, though, Herteis says a coat of asphalt will cover the work up to that point.
Meanwhile, the final legs of work to the water mains in the Spruce Street area are coming to a close. The $450,000 project will soon see the removal of temporary water lines to homes and the new system engaged. Homes on Spruce, Elgin and Queen should have their water infrastructure up and running this week, Herteis said.
“There’s a lot involved; disinfection of the new lines, approved chlorine levels to make sure it can be used,” he said.
As that switch is made water will temporarily turned off from Junction Road to Elgin Street on Wednesday to facilitate the connection on Church and Main and replace a hydrant on Junction Road.
It’s a lot of work for the downtown core but thanks to federal and provincial partners the cost has kept the town’s responsibilities to a minimum and the funding has made way to hire three citizens to join the town’s public works department during the $450,000 upgrade to the Spruce Street area and Herteis was pleased to announce the town has received an additional $380,000 in funding to upgrade the ultraviolet disinfection unit at the town’s sewage treatment plant. That contract has been awarded to Rayo Services of Amherst.
