WOODBRIDGE — Middlesex Water Company broke ground on an underground large diameter water transmission main from Edison to Metuchen last week.
The 42-inch diameter main is being installed to provide critical backup water supply and ensure resiliency in the company’s water distribution system.
This $52 million project, known as the Western Transmission Main, will supplement the company’s existing transmission main, which serves a population of approximately 300,000 in eastern Middlesex County and helps mitigate risks associated with aging infrastructure, according to information provided by Middlesex Water Company.
“We’re commencing construction of this supplementary transmission main along the western portion of our New Jersey service territory to harden our infrastructure and ensure an adequate back-up water supply to meet daily basic needs,” Dennis Doll, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Middlesex Water, said in the statement.
Doll said the Western Transmission Main is one of several projects under the company’s $300 million investment initiative known as Water For Tomorrow, which is designed to strengthen water distribution infrastructure and ensure greater reliability, safety and service quality for current and future generations of water users, according to the statement.
Under the Western Transmission Main project, 4.5 miles of ductile iron pipe will be installed from Jersey Avenue in Metuchen to Cedar Lane in Edison.
The company held an official groundbreaking ceremony at its Carl J. Olsen Water Treatment Plant in Edison to announce the project on May 12.
The event included comments from Doll; MWC Manager of Engineering Brian Carr; Joseph L. Fiordaliso, president of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; Ronald G. Rios, director of the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders; and Joseph Coyle, president of the Edison Chamber of Commerce.
“I commend Middlesex Water for its commitment and hard work towards the Board of Public Utilities’ shared goals of resiliency and sustainability for our natural resources and the commitment to a better tomorrow,” Fiordaliso said in the statement.
Rios said the investments lead to increased economic growth and productivity for Middlesex County and its businesses, increased land values and most importantly improved public and environmental health.
“In short, [the investments] ensure a higher quality of life for all of Middlesex County,” he said in the statement. “I thank and congratulate Middlesex Water Company, its administration and staff on this project and thank them for being a steadfast partner in helping us keep Middlesex County safe and healthy.”
The Western Transmission Main project will affect the following streets for a portion of time as pipeline installation progresses: in Edison, Cedar Lane, Kilmer Road, Brunswick Avenue, Talmadge Road, National Road, New Durham Road and Durham Avenue; and in Metuchen, Durham and Jersey avenues.
Middlesex Water is working with contractors J. Fletcher Creamer for work in Metuchen and parts of Edison north of Route 287, and PACT One, LLC for work in Edison south of Route 287.
Residents who will significantly be affected by the project will receive individual notification with project details.
Middlesex Water and its engineers and contractors have been meeting with officials along the project route to discuss construction timelines, resident information, road closures, potential detours and ways to minimize inconvenience to residents during the project. The entire installation, including complete restoration of areas disturbed by construction, is expected to be completed by 2020, according to the statement.
Information related to construction status, road closures, traffic detours and more will be available at www.WaterForTomorrowMWC.com.
Residents with questions or comments may submit them on the project website or call 800-549-3802.