Sewer, water main and resurfacing ahead for Adams
By Mark H. Stowers
A public hearing to explain the water and sewer laterals being replaced as part of the North Adams Road resurfacing project was unanimously approved by Birmingham city commissioners at their meeting on Monday, July 8.
The north end of Adams Road, from south of Madison Street to the northern city limits, will be resurfaced. In March. The city commission approved a design of North Adams Road, reducing the four lanes to three with the possibility of installing a sidewalk. The existing 12-inch water main was installed in 1924 and will be removed and replaced due to water main breaks. The sewer portion of the project will separate a portion of the combined sewer at the north end of the project. A new storm sewer will connect to an existing storm sewer.
A portion of the existing sewer needs open excavation near Putney Road. The city is proposing the replacement of all sewer laterals near the open excavation of sewer repairs that are 50 years of age or older, are less than six inches in diameter or are constructed of an unsuitable material. All unsuitable sewer laterals will be replaced with six inch schedule 40 PVC or match existing size if larger than six inches.
There will also be replacement of water services that are 60 years of age or older, are less than one inch in diameter, or are constructed of an unsuitable material. All unsuitable water services will be replaced with a new one inch diameter service or be replaced to match the existing diameter if greater than one inch.
The city explained that special assessments will be made to property owners of the area. The water and sewer laterals will be 100 percent paid by the property owners. These can be made done in a lump sum or spread out over five years with interest.
The water lateral costs are $115 per lineal foot for one-inch diameter water service and $125 for two-inch. Sewer laterals are $250 per lineal foot for eight-inch pipe. City engineer Melissa A. Coatta recommended at the meeting for residents to declare necessity and approve the special assessment district (SAD). A public hearing for confirmation of the roll will be held at the city commission meeting on July 22. The properties range from apartments to senior living facilities and condominium complexes.
By replacing laterals that do not meet the city's requirements during a construction project, this will protect the new road from disturbance of either sewer or water lateral replacement. This project will also install a portion of a separate storm that will drain to an existing storm sewer along the west side of North Adams Road.
Several property owners affected by the project voiced their concerns with the cost per owner and the disruption of schools in the area. Coatta explained the costs and that the project will not be finished by the time school starts and the city will coordinate with each affected school.
Coatta noted that property owners and residents affected by the road construction will be notified prior to the construction to offer details and help with coordinating traversing their property.
