Fort Lauderdale residents looking forward to flowing through Downtown without a hitch can gear up for smooth rides soon, as the emergency water main replacement project wraps up. The city has been in collaboration with Murphy Pipeline Contractors to swap out the old pipelines with new 10-inch diameter high-density polyethylene (HDPE) ones, less prone to corrosion from groundwater and saltwater, according to the City of Fort Lauderdale announcement.
Workers, aiming to cause the least disturbance to locals, have adopted a trenchless technology approach for most of the installation, promising efficiency over the traditional methods. Constructing primarily during daylight from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., some night work was inevitable to keep the project on track, per the City of Fort Lauderdale statement. Starting at Las Olas Boulevard and stretching southwest, these critical improvements began last October and the main installation wrapped up in early February.
Temporary connections kept taps running whilst SE 3rd Avenue and surrounding streets received the upgrade. As pavement markings get underway starting March 18, expect to see crews enhancing the drive from Las Olas Boulevard/SE 5th Avenue down to N New River Drive, with completion aimed for March 20. Traffic will be in the hands of control personnel, ready to redirect vehicles when lanes shut for the makeover.
The works brought not only new pipes but also speed humps now adorning N New River Drive, easing the flow of cars along the newly fitted waterways. "We apologize in advance for any inconvenience and thank our neighbors for their patience during construction," Senior Project Manager William Power said in anticipation of the final restoration phase. Motorists should brace for one-lane closures but can breathe easy with no full closures on the horizon.
Questions or concerns? Reach out to William Power at [email protected] or hit up the City of Fort Lauderdale Neighbor Service Center at 954-828-8000 or [email protected].
