Traffic disruptions are expected on Hospital Road in George Town while the Water Authority replaces a main water supply pipeline. Work will begin Monday, 16 January, and is set to run though mid-February or perhaps longer depending on weather conditions, the scope of work needed and other variables encountered.
The northbound lane of Hospital Road (from the four-way junction to Elgin Avenue) will be closed next week. Further, while the pipe-laying work is being done, both lanes of Hospital Road will be closed, with access restricted to local traffic (staff and customers of businesses on Hospital Road), according to a news release from the Water Authority. Either temporary traffic signals or flag men will assist with traffic flow during the road work.
The purpose of the project is to replace an 8-inch diameter pipeline along Hospital Road.
“The main pipeline that runs along Hospital Road was installed in the late 1980s and since that time the demand for water has increased significantly,” said Tom van Zanten, Deputy Director of the Water Authority. “The water distribution system has seen tremendous growth over the past twenty years and the 8-inch pipe now needs to be replaced in order for us to deliver water efficiently and reliably.”
Mr. van Zanten said the aging PVC pipeline will be replaced by a new PVC pipeline with the same diameter.
The Water Authority recently completed a similar project to replace the pipeline along South Church Street, where an 8-inch pipeline was replaced with a 12-inch pipeline. The South Church Street road works began in August.
According to the news release, the Water Authority has taken steps to ensure water service to customers in the Hospital Road area is not affected.
“Prior to pipe laying of the new pipe, a temporary pipeline will be installed to ensure that water service to our customers in the immediate area is not interrupted while the main pipeline is out of service,” said Larry Washburn, operations manager. “We will also backfill the trenches at the end of each day as a safety measure.”
Mr. Washburn said, “Due to the narrowness of the road, and the importance of safety, the Water Authority will perform most of the upgrade work at day, between the hours of 9am and 3.30pm.”
The Hospital Road and other pipeline replacement projects are part of the Water Authority’s 10-year capital plan to expand and upgrade its water and wastewater infrastructure.
Related Videos
