18 months of construction on downtown water line begins

Last week kicked off 18 months of construction on the downtown Durham loop.

The city is replacing the loop's water main, which has been servicing Durham since the 1930s. During the construction, traffic along the loop—which encircles much of the heart of downtown, through Morgan and Ramseur Streets—will be redirected in certain areas and access will occasionally be limited, but the many businesses along the loop are expected to be able to operate normally.

“The pipes have reached the end of their design life. A lot of minerals and materials have built up inside them and we have had issues with pipes breaking and getting enough water through them,” Project Manager Bryant Green.

Along with reducing leaks, the new water main will be better equipped to handle Durham’s changing water demands as the city continues to develop. Upon completion in Spring 2016, more than two miles of waterline in the area will have been replaced at a cost of approximately $7 million to the city.

During the project access to all residences and buildings will remain, but street parking and pedestrian areas will be limited during certain phases of construction.

Despite the minor traffic impacts, Green said that concerns about store isolation are unnecessary.

“We have very seriously looked to make sure there is access to businesses and that the backups or lane closures are not so excessive that they make people unwilling or unable to come downtown,” Green said.

The construction will consume different parts of the loop as the work progresses. When the pipes are being replaced on the busiest streets, the construction will take place at night so as to minimize disruptions to the flow of traffic and general downtown life. The noise associated with the project is anticipated to be between 70 and 90 decibels.