The City of Sedalia will begin the third in a series of water line replacement and extension projects on Monday, April 22 in the north central part of town.

The City says the project is being completed to provide water service to the new Nucor Steel Sedalia facility and to improve the quality of services being provided to customers in the north central part of the city.

The project will begin with the addition of a new 12” water line extending from near the intersection of N. Mill Street and W. Pettis Street continuing north to the Nucor Steel Sedalia facility.

A second portion of the project will begin near 700 Martin Luther King Drive and continue east to N. Missouri Ave. and then proceed east along W. Clay Street to N. Mill Street where it will connect into the new N. Mill Street extension.

The third portion of the project will begin on N. Hogan Street and continue south to connect to the W. Clay Street extension.

A press release from the City of Sedalia says the water line extensions will complete several water line “loops” in the area where deadended lines currently exist. The City indicates that looping in water distribution system design is a practice that results in multiple routes being available for transmission of water to points of demand. Looping also provides for the strengthening of service delivery as the system is less vulnerable to water main breaks, according to the City.

Presently, when a single main breaks water service is interrupted, a looped system allows for isolation of the break and water service continues in the area through an alternate loop. A greater overall quantity of water will be made available in the area where water lines are looped. The increase in overall quantity becomes especially important when needed for firefighting needs. The quantity of water is increased, in part, as a result of friction pressure losses being reduced as multiple flow channels for needed water is available.

Additionally, the City says there is less likelihood of water quality deterioration due to stagnation of water in a looped system as compared to a system having deadends. Water in deadended mains is utilized solely by the demand within the area to the termination point, whereas looped mains allow for better overall circulation of water within the distribution system.

The planned distribution system improvements are a way to enhance water quality, improve service reliability and provide a ready supply of water for firefighters.

As the project begins, the City’s construction contractors will be out taking photos and videos of the street, sidewalks and fronts of properties; so the areas may be restored to pre-construction condition once the project is complete.

Also, prior to construction beginning, the City’s Water Division staff will be going door-to-door speaking with residents in the project area and answering any questions or concerns about the project, as well as placing door hangers with information and contact information for questions that may come up during construction.

Survey stakes and utility markings will also be set-up along easements, rights-of-ways, and near water meter pits and will continue to be seen in the area throughout the project.

The City says on streets where construction work is occurring, NO PARKING signs and SIDEWALK CLOSED signs will be placed. Stormwater management controls will be placed around stormwater drains.

As the project is occurring, where the majority of parking is off the roadway, minimal impact to residents related to parking is expected.

If needed, the City will temporarily allow parking along adjacent streets which routinely may be marked as No Parking to ensure adequate parking is available for residents in the area.

During construction when the work day begins, streets may be barricaded and closed to through traffic.

The City adds that arrangements will be made to allow homeowners in and out of their properties. On trash collection days, all garbage and recycling trucks will be allowed access to the project area for scheduled trash pickup.

The project will be using directional boring which results in less disruption to easements and rights-of-ways. The City indicates the process allows for underground lines to be installed without the impact of open excavation.

The process uses drilling to bore from a small pit where the equipment is positioned. A drill rod goes from one end of the bore with the new pipe attached and is pulled back eliminating open excavation and keeping surface disturbance to a minimum.

The press release says open excavation due to tree roots or other infrastructure is planned to be kept to a minimum and any landscaping and/or sod that is damaged will be scheduled for repair and/or replacement by the Water Division’s contractors, during the appropriate seeding or planting periods.

The City says all customers are placed on a landscape list in order of the water main replacement project affecting their property.

The Water Division’s contractors will provide a one-time restoration of landscape to its pre-construction condition, at no cost to residents, in the fall or spring when temperatures are suitable for planting.

Customers are still responsible for watering and caring for the plantings. Once the project is completed, the crew will do a final sweep to clean the area and begin moving all equipment and material out.

Street signs and stormwater management devices may remain in the project areas to collect sediment, which means the devices will remain positioned in front of storm drains for several months.

The City noted that all work is weather dependent. For more information, call the Public Works Department at 827-3000.

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