Watermains to be replaced in Ward 5

Seventy- to 80-year-old cast iron watermains in the Dieppe Street, Roosevelt Avenue and Garfield Avenue area of Welland that have experienced a very high rate of breakage and leakage will be replaced this year.

City council has voted to accept a tender from Peters Excavating Inc. of Stevensville in the amount of $1,469,530 for the work to replace approximately 1,200 metres of watermains, including accessories, water service laterals and any lead services found.

A report from city engineer Chris Anders said cast iron pipe of that age was often constructed with thinner inner walls and poor quality materials and proven to be less capable of withstanding deteriorating effects of corrosion and frost heave.

The report also said based on records, there are a potential 71 lead services to be replaced in the area as well, but that will be confirmed once work gets underway.

Under the tender, trenches from the construction will be restored with base asphalt and the roadway will be left for a one-year maintenance period to allow for possible settlement. Surface asphalt and curb repairs would be budgeted for separately in future capital budgets.

The report said Peters was the lowest tender of five that has done similar work for the city and other municipalities across Niagara.

Work is expected to begin in May and continue through the summer, weather permitting.

Ward 5 Coun. Claudette Richard said she is sure residents of the ward will be very pleased to see the work carried out.

“There’s been a number of breakages and floods in the area.”