Tampa Bay Water to Install Pipeline Along Van Dyke Road

CLEARWATER, Fla. (June 18, 2009) ­ Tampa Bay Water will begin construction on a pipeline that will deliver up to 4 million gallons of additional drinking water per day to Hillsborough County. Construction crews are mobilizing in the area and construction is scheduled to begin the week of June 29, 2009.

The Northwest Hillsborough Well No. 7 Intertie Project will connect an existing, isolated drinking water well on Van Dyke Road to a water supply line that feeds Hillsborough County’s Lake Park Water Treatment Plant. From there, the treated water will be distributed to Hillsborough County water customers, including those that live along the pipeline route.

The pipeline will be constructed along the south side of Van Dyke Road and the west side of Dale Mabry Highway, and into the Lake Park Water Treatment Plant. Construction activities will take place in the unpaved right-of-way along these major roadways, so no road closures are anticipated. For safety purposes, concrete barriers will be put in place and driving speeds will be limited along affected roads. Motorists are encouraged to allow extra drive time and use caution when traveling in construction zones.

Construction will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Night and weekend work will be limited. When pipeline construction crosses business driveways, one-half of an entrance will remain open at all times and flagmen will direct traffic to ensure safe traffic flow at affected access points.

“Maintaining access to homes and businesses is a priority,” said Rick Menzies, project supervisor with Tampa Bay Water. “We understand that construction can be an inconvenience and we will do our best to keep residents and businesses informed as the project progresses.”

The project will cost $1.7 million and is being funded by Tampa Bay Water.

Construction activities are expected to be completed in June 2010. Periodic construction updates will be posted at www.tampabaywater.org.

Tampa Bay Water provides wholesale water to the public utility systems of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties as well as the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa.

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