The Department of Watershed Management began construction on the Peachtree Street/West Peachtree Street Water Main Replacement Project yesterday. The project will involve the installation of approximately 10,000 feet of new 12-inch water mains on Peachtree Street between 3rd and 14th streets, and West Peachtree Street between North Avenue and 12th Street. The existing water pipes in this area are old and too small to provide sufficient capacity for the area. The new water pipes will provide adequate pressure to accommodate growth in the area and will eliminate discolored water.
This project is a prelude to the comprehensive Midtown Water Main Replacement Project scheduled to begin construction in the fourth quarter of 2006. That project will involve the installation of approximately 120,000 feet of eight-inch mains on numerous streets in Midtown. The schedule for work on Peachtree and West Peachtree streets has been accelerated to accommodate a major paving project scheduled for the Midtown area.
Motorists may be affected by temporary lane closures and blocked intersections as they commute through the area. Residents will experience a brief interruption of water service when service is transferred from the old mains to the new pipe after main installation is completed, but will receive notice when the service transfer is scheduled for their location.
“It’s another opening day as we break ground on the Peachtree Street/West Peachtree Street Water Main Replacement Project which is part of the $3.9 billion Clean Water Atlanta program to overhaul our water and wastewater systems,” said Commissioner Rob Hunter. “This is an important step in our progress to rebuild our infrastructure and ensure that Atlanta residents have the cleanest, safest drinking water possible. We understand that our customers and motorists traveling through the area will be inconvenienced by this work, and we ask for their patience and understanding. We promise that the results will be worth the trouble.”