The Town held its monthly project update with contract engineers and utility contractors for the waterline project on Wednesday, April 29. The Town has been providing the information it has been given by contractors, engineers, and NCDOT. This is a complex project in which field conditions can result in delays and alterations in work and schedules. Thank you for your continued patience during this once-in-a-lifetime project installing 4 miles of waterline for the backbone of the Town’s water distribution system to improve water quality and fire flow, as recommended in the 2007 Water and Sewer Master Plan. If you have questions, please contact Town Hall at 704-436-9800.
Overall Project Schedule and Completion
All waterline installation originally contracted for N. Main St., S. Main St., W. Franklin St., E. Franklin Street, Hwy. 49 and Empire was complete by the end of January 2026. Final tie-ins, line operation, restoration of impacted curb & gutter, sidewalk, disturbed ground cover continued through mid-April. The contractor will be conducting pavement remediation in areas required by NCDOT the first week of May. The original contract timeline allowed for 450 days from project start date (February 10, 2025) for substantial completion, which is May 6, 2026. Once remediation is complete, NCDOT contractor NJR Group, Inc. will begin milling and paving NC Hwy. 73 and Main Street.
Park Drive
A 2-inch water service line was installed on Park Drive to improve water service to McAllister Park during the first two weeks of April. All parking at the municipal complex will be paved by June 30.
Hwy. 49 and Jackson Street (North of Hwy. 49)
This new section of 12-inch waterline was added to the overall project in early 2026 due to the age of the existing line and the reliance on the entire system on this line. The line will run from the Water Treatment Plant along Hwy. 49, north on Jackson Street, up to North Drive. Engineering approval is being finalized, and work is expected to begin in May. This project addition is expected to take up to 105 days from commencement.
Allman Road Extension & Seneca Drive
Due to availability of funding, the existing 2-inch waterline on Allman Road Extension will be replaced with a 6-inch waterline and a new 2-inch waterline will be installed on Seneca Drive. This project addition is still in engineering. Pending engineering approval, the project addition is expected to begin late summer.
The Town is seeking additional funding from the state to be able to complete the remainder of Allman Road Extension and S. Skyland Dr. with a 6-inch waterline. The state approved diverting the original funding to the Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation project in 2025 to refurbish the water plant equipment, pumps, and tanks and implement measures to reduce disinfection byproducts in the water system (a separate project).
