Repair work on Mulberry is done
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on December 21, 2014 1:50 AM
Construction work that began on Mulberry Street in August has been completed nearly three weeks after deadline.
The project, which was to replace sanitary sewer lines along the street after blockage was discovered, was initially set to be completed Nov. 19. This was after a change order for $78,500 was authorized, bumping the deadline back from Nov. 4. The change order increased the final cost of the project to $424,000.
The last work was completed Dec. 5.
Project manager Rahma Chittilla, a sewer engineer, said bad weather was a major concern during the replacement of sanitary sewer lines, slowing the company down by nearly 20 days.
Chittilla said the surface asphalt of Mulberry Street is still patchwork for now, and the complete resurfacing should be completed by Christmas.
"I can't promise that time frame, because the timing of the project and the weather is a concern, but it will be entirely resurfaced in the very near future," Chittilla said.
Barnhill Construction Co. will complete the resurfacing. Prices for the project are still being negotiated, Chittilla said.
The construction affected the 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500 and 1600 blocks of Mulberry Street. A damaged series of sanitary sewer lines, which had been in use for 60 years, has now been replaced after the lines were eaten through with hydrogen sulfite gas.
Residents along Mulberry Street were not affected by the construction, officials said, as their driveways were still accessible.