By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The existing four-inch water main line on Oak Street between 20th Street and 26th Street is more than 60 years old and needs to be replaced.

It also has a history of leaks and does not provide adequate fire protection, Johnny O’Connor, Hays Director of Utilities, told city commissioners Thursday night.

O’Connor recommended accepting a low bid of $444,777 from J Corp of Hays to replace the waterline with an eight-inch PVC line and make necessary pavement repairs, and also for additional pavement work to replace other areas of failed concrete on Oak Street. The pronject work was budgeted at $500,000.

If city commissioners approve the bid at their next regular meeting, the work could begin in mid-October for 90 working days.  O’Connor anticipated winter weather might stretch the project anywhere from four to six months.

Disruption to the public though, would be minimal, and nearby property owners would be notified ahead of time.

“We should be able to maintain through-traffic to the residences, but half of the road (Oak St.) will be taken out of service because we’re moving the (water) line from the edge of the road to the center of the road for better alignment and less connections to service that area,” O’Connor said.

He also told commissioners the residences “will always have water.”

“The new line will be put in and when we’re ready to tie-in we’ll notify everybody and then that tie-in will be done.”

This will be the third and final phase of the 2013 Waterline Projects and is part of the Capital Improvement Plan in Hays.