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Excavators Break Ground on the

Central Water Line
After years of planning and preparation, the long-anticipated Central Water Line Project has officially broken ground! Construction began on Lewis Street near C-Ville Imports, marking a major milestone in efforts to strengthen the urban water transmission network and enhance system redundancy and resiliency. 

The first section of 30-inch pipe was installed on Monday, October 27, and by the end of the week, crews had successfully laid 120 feet of new pipe as they worked toward the intersection of Lewis Street and Fontaine Avenue.
 
Construction efforts will continue this week as crews continue to install the 30-inch ductile iron pipe. Focus will shift midweek to working on a 2-inch City PEX service line also located on   
Lewis Street. By the week's end, 
Construction crew installs the first piece of 24" pipe
Construction workers install the first section of pipe on Lewis Street.
workers will begin to sawcut sections of road on Price Street. 

This progress marks an exciting start to a project that will help ensure a more reliable water future for our community.

Two Week Lookahead
Week of November 3
  • Lewis Street
    • Pipe installation work continues. In addition to the 30" main pipe, construction crews will also install a 2-inch PEX water line for the City.
  • Price Street
    • Sawcutting efforts will begin.
Week of November 10
  • Lewis Street
    • New pipe installation is expected to reach the intersection of Lewis Street and Fontaine Avenue. To minimize traffic impacts on Fontaine Avenue, construction work will occur at night. Construction crews will be active between 8:00 PM and 5:00 AM.

Temporary Road Closures
To accommodate construction activities, temporary road closures will be in effect along sections of Lewis Street as crews continue pipe installation. While through traffic will be restricted, localized access will remain available for residents and businesses in the area. Drivers should expect intermittent detours and lane shifts as equipment and materials are moved in and out of the work zone. In addition, nightwork is planned along Fontaine Avenue, where one lane will remain open to maintain traffic flow. Flaggers will be stationed at both ends of the work area to guide vehicles safely through the construction zone. Motorists are encouraged to use caution, follow posted detours, and allow extra travel time when passing through the area.

What is Sawcutting?
Pavement sawcutting is the process of using a specialized saw to create clean, controlled cuts in asphalt. This technique is used to neatly remove sections of pavement so crews can excavate dirt. By making smooth, well-defined cuts, sawcutting minimizes damage to surrounding pavement and ensures a cleaner, more durable restoration once construction work is complete.

Pavement Restoration
At the end of each week, temporary paving will occur in areas that have been disturbed. Crews will return within six months to complete the final paving. This last stage covers a wider section of roadway, often extending across the entire lane or street. This ensures that the street will have a smooth, durable, and long-lasting driving surface. If, for whatever reason, the temporary pavement deteriorates, the contractor will repair the pavement until the permanent paving is complete.
A final paving on Lewis Street will occur in all areas highlighted with an orange crosshatch. 
Click the image for a larger version.

Central Water Line Project is One of Several Projects Underway in the Region
In 2002, the Central Virginia Region experienced a historical drought of record. This drought and the water supply needs of the Charlottesville/Albemarle region sparked a decade-long water supply planning process (2002-2012). Over the next five years, RWSA is investing more than $300 million to enhance our urban raw water storage capabilities, raw water transmission pipelines, treatment facilities, and transmission pipelines for finished water (treated drinking water).
  1.  New Earthen Dam – In 2014, RWSA completed building a new dam at Ragged Mountain. 
  2. WTP Improvements - Recent facility upgrades have substantially increased each plant’s treatment capacity. 
  3. Ragged Mountain Reservoir Pool Fill Project - RWSA will fully utilize the reservoir’s storage capacity by adding 700 million gallons for a total of 2.1 billion gallons. 
  4. RMR to OBWTP Raw Water Line and Pump Station - A new 36” transmission pipe is replacing two smaller 70 and 100-year-old transmission pipes. 
  5. South Rivanna River Crossing - A large 24” finished water transmission pipe is being added to better support the northern area in Albemarle County. 
  6. Central Water Line (CWL) - The CWL will provide a high-flow, large-diameter finished water transmission pipe that will better connect RWSA’s treatment facilities, transmission pipes, and water storage tanks.  
  7. SFRR to RMR Raw Water Line - The new line will allow RWSA to fully utilize the SFRR’s watershed and RMR’s storage capacity. It will also allow both WTPs to pull from either or both reservoirs. 
More details about our construction projects can be found online.
Construction Projects
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695 Moores Creek Ln
Charlottesville, VA 22902
USA