Missouri American Water is kicking off 2019 with plans to replace more than 85,000 feet of aging infrastructure in St. Louis County at an investment of more than $30 million.
The projects cover water mains countywide, with start dates beginning immediately and running into the spring.
“If you remember January 2018, Missouri American Water set a company record with more than 1,200 water main breaks in St. Louis County,” said Missouri American Water Manager of Operations - Construction Christopher Parrish. “Working to replace aging infrastructure like this is our effort to get ahead of the kinds of water main breaks that disrupt our customers’ lives. A new main is much less likely to break than one that is 60, 70, 80 years old no matter how cold it might get.
“We ask for patience and understanding as we temporarily disrupt these streets in order to ensure continued delivery of clean, safe, award-winning water to our customers.”
Streets with ongoing water main replacement projects may face lane restrictions and increased traffic, so travelers are encouraged to find alternate routes where possible.
Work on these projects generally will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. During construction, customers might experience temporary water service interruptions, discolored water and/or lower-than-normal water pressure.
Once each project is complete, contractors for Missouri American Water will construct temporary road patches to allow traffic flow. Permanent road repair, as well as restoration of any other yard and property damage caused by the work, will begin within 90 days of project completion. This allows for the ground to properly settle so that restoration work is successful.
