February 14, 2024 ♥♥♥ |
Photo – Map of River Street Project – Courtesy Town of Saratoga
Officials in Saratoga are preparing to begin the next phase of its waterline replacement project.
Last summer, work was finally completed on the Spring Avenue Waterline Replacement Project. Contractor Lewis and Lewis dug up the old water pipes running beneath Spring Avenue and installed new lines. Numerous issues pushed the completion date from October of 2022 to June of 2023.
With Spring Avenue finished, the town is preparing to move onto the next part of the project: replacing the waterlines beneath South River Street, from Bridge to Maple Avenue.
During the February 6th Saratoga town council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner said inflation has forced him to reduce the scope of the River Street project.
To replace the water lines, the asphalt on River Street will have to be removed. Penner said instead of repaving the entire street after the pipes are installed, he’ll have the contractor lay down a thin layer of asphalt covered in aggregate, called chip sealing. The public works director said not paving the road will save the town approximately $95,000.
Penner said the project is likely to cost the town $1.6 million in 6th Penny Tax money. The public works director said he wants to save as much money as possible to address other special purpose tax projects in the future. Penner said he is ready to begin advertising for a contractor to carry out the River Street Waterline Replacement project.
Saratoga voters approved the 6th Penny Tax in May of 2019. The Spring Avenue Waterline Replacement was the first project funded by special purpose tax revenue. Mayor Chuck Davis said the River Street waterline replacement is the second project the town will undertake.
The Saratoga town council voted to allow Penner to move forward with the project and solicit contractor bids.
