Officially, a major infrastructure improvement project begins Monday in downtown Emporia. However, it looks like it will be at least a few days before work begins.
A pre-construction meeting involving city staff, contract crews and utility companies will finalize a lot of the details this week. The date for that has not yet been released.
City Engineer Jim Ubert says work will then likely start within a week or two, and much of the early work will actually finish a process that began last fall. Ubert says a number of pipes have not yet been investigated to gauge their condition.
Once that work is done, the project can formally begin.
Work officially affects downtown from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks north to 12th and from Constitution east to Market. Ubert says the city, Emporia Main Street and others associated with the project are working to minimize any inconvenience to everybody — businesses, residents, shoppers, government employees and vistors. However, some adjustments can’t be avoided.
The project could take up to 16 months to finish out. Work will take place in the alleys to minimize travel issues. Ubert says sewage flow will be maintained during initial repairs, but there will be sewage shutdowns and other water restrictions when the pipes are re-lined.
Ubert says pipe conditions have deteriorated over time, but that’s to be expected with how those pipes were built decades ago.
Ubert says there will be weekly meetings on Thursdays to both update progress and also plan ahead for work for the upcoming week or two.
KVOE News will have constant updates on the work as it continues.
