Water, sewer upgrades coming for Port Williams
Water and wastewater services will be improved to some Port Williams residents following a $1-million investment by three levels of government.
The project will see 313 metres of water mains, sewer mains and lateral connections replaced along High Street. The federal and provincial governments are cost-sharing the project with the Village of Port Williams.
“Upgrading our infrastructure, we just couldn’t do it without the help and the co-operation of both governments,” Port Williams Village Chairperson Lewis Benedict said during the Feb. 9 announcement. “With their help and our know-how, we’ll get it done.”
The section of High Street that will see the upgrades will be from Highway 358 to Jakeson Street, which includes the post office and the Port Williams United Baptist Church. The remainder of High
Street, from Jakeson Street to Belcher Street, was upgraded about 20 years ago.
Engineering design work is underway for the project. Village officials hope to tender the project by the end of the winter and award it for spring construction.
“We want to get it out as quick as we can,” Benedict said.
While the project has been formally discussed by the commission for a couple of years, it’s been on its radar for longer. Benedict estimated some of the pipes would be more than 70 years old.
“This is an upgrade to an aging system, which is badly needed,” said Kings North province’s MLA John Lohr, the minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
“We’re doing water and sewer (projects) around the province. It’s incredibly important to the housing crisis that we have.”
The project will also provide more capacity in the system as the new pipes that will be installed are larger than the existing ones.
Kings-Hants MP Kody
Blois called it a good day for both Port Williams and the Annapolis Valley and noted the project will help the area to continue to grow.
“We are an attractive place to call home,” he said.