Fort Lauderdale residents, be prepared for some neat changes underfoot, and maybe oust your earplugs. According to an announcement from the City of Fort Lauderdale, a new water main project is underway downtown—and it's using some slick, trenchless tech to keep the disturbance to a polite minimum. Murphy Pipeline Contractors are fitting in some spanking new 10-inch pipes made of HDPE.
The construction started making waves back on October 2, 2023, and with crews mostly keeping to the daytime beat between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., evenings have stayed on the quieter side. There's occasional night work, because, well, pipes don't discriminate with the sun down. This operation has been humming along since last year, and these pipe-laying maestros expect to cap off their symphony by the time we hit mid-June 2024.
If you drive through the arteries of N New River Drive E or flirt with the corners of SE 5th Avenue and Las Olas Boulevard, prepare to throttle back. Lane closures are on the menu, but it's a light serving—just one lane each way within the construction borders. No need to reroute your entire day around full closures, though, as the traffic chiefs on site will keep things flowing as smooth as the very water these pipes will carry.
The crews already nailed down the valve adjustments needed to keep things hunky-dory, and next up, they're tightening the belt on those white pavement markings that got a bit sloppy. Once the fresh paint's laid down, they'll take a final gander to ensure everything's just as spiffy as they promise. So, Fort Lauderdale, let's give a little tip of the hat to the city and their construction buddies for keeping the inconvenience light and our future water, crisp and clean.
Question about the twists and turns of piping or the traffic dance you'll need to learn? William Power, the Senior Project Manager at City Hall, would be chuffed to help. Shoot your queries and thanks to [email protected] and keep the community vibe going strong.
