Carteret, Woodbridge drinking water systems are being replaced. Will you be affected?
Middlesex Water Company will invest $11 million to upgrade drinking water infrastructure in Carteret and portions of the Port Reading section of Woodbridge, beginning next month.
Middlesex Water said it intends to replace 26,000 linear feet of water main, as well as service lines, valves and fire hydrants, while removing any lead or galvanized steel service lines it encounters.
The following Carteret streets are included in the project: Arthur Avenue; Ash, Birch and Casey streets; Coolidge Avenue; Daniel, East Chestnut and East Laurel streets; Jackson Avenue; Marion Street; McKinley Avenue; Mulberry and Spruce streets; Sumutka Avenue, Sycamore Street, Tyler Avenue, and Willow Street.
In Port Reading: Dawn Drive; Henry, Holly and Larch streets; Southeast Grant Avenue and Vernon Way.
The work is expected to take eight to nine months to complete with road, sidewalk and lawn restoration to follow as weather conditions allow in spring 2024.
Residents may observe some traffic disruption as the roadway is trenched to accommodate the installation of a new water main. There will also be excavations when the service lines to each individual building structure are connected to the new mains. This will impact traffic flow, but on a smaller scale.
Affected customers will receive additional details about the project in advance of the temporary service interruption. Residents can expect unimpeded access to their homes as crews work to replace and install the new mains, water service lines and meter pits. Crews may revisit streets multiple times to complete all facets of the work. Drivers and pedestrians are advised to practice caution in the areas where work is underway.
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The project also includes the installation of exterior below ground meter pits to eventually house water meters at each customer’s premise. The company’s long-term plan is to relocate meters from inside the home to exterior meter pits for greater customer convenience and safety. The actual relocation of the meter will occur when the customer’s meter is regularly scheduled for testing.
Customers affected by the project can expect to be without water service for a period of up to eight hours as their water service line is transferred from the old water main to the new main. Customers will be notified of the expected timing of this transfer in advance through phone calls and door hangers.
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Carteret, Woodbridge NJ drinking water systems being replaced
