The Town held its monthly project update with contract engineers and utility contractors for the waterline project on Wednesday, August 5. 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 began conducting a stormwater and road repair at E. Franklin St. and Barringer Street beginning the week of June 22. This should be complete by the end of August. Once this work is complete, NCDOT contractor NJR Group, Inc. will begin milling and paving NC Hwy. 73 and Main Street. NJR has provided a tentative start time of September for this work.
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. In July, Park Drive and all municipal complex parking were milled and paved. A total of 10 parking spaces were added to the site and a drive-through lane was added for the Food Ministry.
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. The Town and its contract engineering firm had been planning for work to begin in June with work complete before school started in August, however there were delays in obtaining approval from state agencies to begin and work, and the start date was delayed. Work is beginning the first week of August with completion expected by September. The contract allows up to 105 days to complete the work.
Allman Road Extension & Seneca Drive
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 has been approved by NCDEQ. Work on this segment is expected to begin in September or October with project close-out by the end of the year. The Town is still working to identify a funding source to complete waterline replacement on the remainder of Allman Road Ext. and S. Skyland Drive.
