The Town held its monthly project update with contract engineers and utility contractors for the waterline project on Wednesday, September 2. 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. During the first two weeks of April, a 2-inch water service line was installed on Park Drive to improve water service to McAllister Park. In July, Park Drive and all municipal complex parking were milled and paved, with 10 new spaces and drive-through lane for the Food Ministry added. The utility 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. From the last week of June through the last week of August, NCDOT performed stormwater and road repair at E. Franklin St. and Barringer Street. Now that this work is complete, NCDOT contractor NJR Group, Inc. has provided a tentative start date of September to begin milling and paving NC Hwy. 73 and Main Street.
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 still expected to be completed by the end of September, within the allowable 105 days in the contract.
Allman Road Extension & Seneca Drive
As a potential addition to the waterline project, the Town has been working on prepare engineering plans to replace the existing 2-inch waterline on Allman Road Extension with a new 6-inch waterline and a new 2-inch line on Seneca Road. This project addition has been approved by NCDEQ. It is unknown at this time if remaining project funding will be able to cover this addition. It is more likely that the project will have to wait for future funding availability.
