Indiana American Water held a public hearing Monday at the Horizon Convention Center to discuss two improvement projects to be made to streets in Muncie this semester.
Greg Gibson, construction manager for Indiana American Water, said during the meeting that the project consisted of replacing the 2-inch water duct main on North Street and University Avenue for 8-inch water ducts, which will supply a better flow to residents of the nearby neighborhoods. The new ducts will also have upgraded fire services, such as connections for fire hoses.
The replacements will take place on North Street (from Linden Street to Greenwood Avenue) and on University Avenue (from Tillotson Avenue to Ball Memorial Hospital). The project, which will receive $180,000 of grant money and up to $120,000 of federal money, is in the design stages and will begin on Dec. 1.
Gibson said no major construction changes to surrounding areas are expected during the upgrades. The company will try to keep the tree roots and bricks on North Street, because it is part of a historical neighborhood.
Stacy Sagar, director of operations for Indiana American Water, said some of the ducts that supply water to Muncie were installed in the 1940s and are not suitable anymore.
"This is an old neighborhood; some of the ducts are over 100 years," Sagar said. "During the time these ducts were installed, they didn't have cars and trucks. This adds more physical stress on the area, and the ducts are not in shape to support it."
Gibson said the replacement for North Street should conclude 120 days after the project starts. The replacement for University Avenue could last longer, but should conclude before Spring Break, he said. A lane on University Street could be closed once the project starts, but he said there will be no major inconveniences for cars driving in the area.
Gibson said he is discussing the project with Jim Lowe, director of engineering and operations at Ball State University.
"We have talked about other projects in the past," he said. "We have a good relationship with Ball State."
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