The Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) is taking major steps to replace an old water pipeline that stretches approximately 11 miles between Mansfield and Midlothian. Recognizing the aging infrastructure's vulnerability, the water district initiated the Cedar Creek Section 2 Pipeline Replacement – Phase I project. Although the project started back in 2019, the real construction work kicked off in late 2024, with its completion set for 2028 at an estimated cost of $155 million.
About one-third of the pipeline's pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) segments had shown signs of distress, primarily due to hydrogen embrittlement, the City of Mansfield reported. This condition notably increases the risk of a ruptured pipeline, which could seriously disrupt the water supply to multiple cities that rely on this source. The newfound plan involves replacing these pipes with 90-inch and 102-inch welded steel pipes, which promise to not only mitigate the risk of future failures but also enhance the capacity of water delivery.
The construction effort is divided into two separate contracts, with the first tackling the FM 664 area, corresponding with the Texas Department of Transportation’s planned highway widening project. According to the City of Mansfield, preliminary design for the project began in 2019, and the much-awaited construction phase is now actively unfolding. As part of the initial groundwork, contractors are setting up silt fences for erosion control and stripping topsoil in the Mansfield area.
This week, the area will witness the arrival of large-diameter steel pipes, which are integral to the upgrade of the aging pipeline. These deliveries are expected to proceed from west to east within the TRWD right-of-way commencing east of Walnut Creek, as outlined in the City of Mansfield's update. Interested parties can explore more details about the pipeline replacement location and direction on the city's website via a detailed fly-through video.
