BERLIN – Water line replacement is expected to cause some headaches for motorists in Ocean Pines this winter.
The installation of a new sewage force main along Ocean Parkway and the replacement of several deficient water service lines in the same area are expected to cause some delays for drivers beginning in December.
John Ross, deputy director of Worcester County Public Works, urges those traveling the north section of Ocean Parkway to be careful.
“Use caution,” he said. “We’ve got people working out there. Hopefully, we’ll get the project done before traffic picks up for the summer.”
The force main work, which is taking place on Ocean Parkway between Windjammer Road and Village Way, involves replacing the six-inch pipe that’s been in place for decades with a larger 12-inch pipe.
“It’s too small for what Ocean Pines has grown into,” Ross said of the old infrastructure.
The new force main will have four times the capacity of the existing pipe, he said.
Because the pavement will be torn up for the installation of the force main, county officials have hired a contractor to replace several deficient water service lines in that area at the same time.
“This way we won’t have to dig up Ocean Parkway again,” Ross said.
WM Water and Sewer will be replacing 47 water lines in that area of Ocean Parkway. Ross said the lines were made of polybutylene, the blue tubing popular in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s now known for its quick deterioration.
“We were having a lot of leaks,” he said.
County staff identified all of the Ocean Pines homes built during the time polybutylene was used and estimated that 250 water lines needed to be replaced.
“We figure they all probably have substandard piping,” Ross said.
County officials put the project out to bid twice but received no proposals, which led them to believe the project was too large.
“Most of the people that do this are small local contractors,” Ross said.
John Tustin, director of Worcester County Public Works, suggested county officials reduce the scope of work. The 47 lines in the vicinity of the force main on Ocean Parkway were selected to be replaced first since the force main work was already scheduled. WM Water and Sewer will be performing the work for $34,250.
While there are still more than 200 water lines that need to be replaced, Ross said they won’t be as difficult to get done because they’re not on heavily traveled Ocean Parkway.
“Once Ocean Parkway is off the list we’ll have more time to work on the others,” Ross said.