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Old Market Infrastructure Project Click here for latest update. Note: We anticipate it will be completed by the first part of November 2009. 5.25: $1.3 million project: Road work on bricks calls for a few tricks (Old Market Project) -- Omaha World-Herald 9.30: M.U.D. Old Market Project combines old and new -- WOWT Click here for project calendar The City of Omaha plans extensive brick paving and curb rehabilitation work in the Old Market (between Farnam and Jackson Sts. from 10th and 13th Sts.) in 2009. The District typically upgrades its buried infrastructure (gas and water mains) in coordination with city street improvements. Gas mains were installed in the Old Market in 1887, followed by water mains in 1895. While these mains have served us well, the time has come to upgrade them. Water and gas infrastructure rates collected from all District customers will fund Old Market upgrades, estimated to cost more than $1.2 million. Though newer, high-pressure gas mains now serve many Old Market customers, original cast iron, low-pressure mains serve numerous buildings. Newer mains must be extended to convert remaining low pressure customers to high pressure. Where possible, new small-diameter plastic gas pipe will be bored underground between small excavations. Low-pressure gas services will be replaced and meters will be upgraded to high pressure. New metering equipment will be installed outside. Where outside meter installation is not feasible, meters and regulators will remain inside; however, inside regulators must be vented outside. Inside fuel line and vent tubing will be installed as necessary. Some gas main and service work already has been completed northeast of 11th and Howard Sts. Remaining gas main extensions and service replacements will continue until next spring. When gas services are upgraded, service will be temporarily interrupted after coordinating times with customers. Upgrading Old Market water mains will be difficult. To minimize impacts, the District will use the latest technology to renew the existing mains instead of replacing them via trenched construction. In short, the District will clean the inside of the mains and install plastic liners in them to provide needed strength and increase flow. Work will be done via 6-feet by 9-feet excavations in the street every 350 feet or less. Similar excavations are necessary at large (less than 2-inch) water service connections. Before the mains can be cleaned and lined, temporary, above-ground bypass pipes must be installed to supply water to all affected customers. Six-inch PVC pipes and fire hose will be installed behind curb on the sidewalks. Ramps over the bypass pipes will ensure pedestrian traffic is not affected. Hoses will connect bypass piping to small (less than or 2-inch) services via outside spigots. The District will install spigots (and modify interior plumbing) as necessary. Larger services will be connected to bypass pipes via excavations and rigid pipe. The District has inspected Old Market buildings and services to determine how each customer will be served. A contractor will install bypass piping. This should take two to three weeks. After bypass piping installation and testing, temporary services will be connected. This could take another two weeks. After all customers have temporary service, street excavations will be made to access the mains. (This includes removing brick pavers the City of Omaha will store offsite until the street project begins.) A specialty contractor will clean the mains and structurally line them. The renewed mains will be tested before they are returned to service. The District will minimize impacts to businesses, residents and the traveling public as much as possible. All excavations will be barricaded and properly marked throughout the project. Please use caution during construction periods. |
For more information about the project, contact Jeff Schovanec, 504.7905 or e-mail jeff_schovanec@mudomaha.com.
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