The Town held its monthly project update with contract engineers and utility contractors for the waterline project on Wednesday, June 24. 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 has removed all old valves from the roadway and is working with subcontractor NJR Group, Inc. to make a stormwater and road repair on E. Franklin Street near Cantina 73. NCDOT is also conducting a stormwater and road repair on E. Franklin St. at Barringer Street during the week of June 22. This should be complete by the end of June. Once these repairs are 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 the end of July.
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. Work will begin on this line in mid-July with completion expected by September. The contract allows up to 105 days to complete the work.
Allman Road Extension & Seneca Road
Due to availability of funding, the existing 2-inch waterline on Allman Road Extension is planned to be replaced with a 6-inch waterline and a new 2-inch waterline will be installed on Seneca Road. 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 funding for this area had to be diverted 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).
