Up until early October, drivers along 92nd Avenue in Federal Heights will experience some construction and traffic changes due to utility improvements. The city is working to install a new eight-inch waterline between Pecos Street and North Tejon Street.
“Over the past several years, the water line has had several breaks, which occurred during unplanned times,” said Federal Heights city engineer Chuck Esterly. “We’ve had breaks where it’s flooded people’s backyards and the street has flooded causing emergency water shutdowns. So this project will provide more reliable water service to homes and the businesses.”
Handling the project is the Brannan Construction Company headed by project manager Luke Lopez, who said the team is working hard to minimize traffic interruptions during high traffic times, limiting project working hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“While we are working, there will always be a lane open in each direction, except for when we get closer to Tejon Street when we will have to shift traffic westbound into the eastbound lane and then we will have one lane of traffic in either direction,” he said. “But that will last no longer than two days, and will not be happening in the evening hours.”
Esterly said the current construction is part of a four-phase project that will eventually replace the waterline all the way west to Federal Boulevard. He said more valves are being added as well as fire hydrants. The four-phase project will be completed over the next two to three years.
“The last phase will coincide with the future intersection improvements that will be happening at 92nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard,” he said.
For now, Lopez is asking drivers to keep an eye out for crew members during the project.
“We are working in a high profile traffic area, to it’s important for people to be more aware,” he said. “We are just out here to improve the utilities. We are trying to get in and get out.”
