2016 Water Main Project on Southport

Southport Water Main Project

Project: City of Chicago Department of Water Management and Joel Kennedy Construction Corp. crews will be installing approximately 2,830 feet of new 8-inch water main in N. Southport, from W. Addison to W. Belmont.

Reason: The old water main dates back to 1892 and needs to be replaced.

Timing: Crews will begin installing the new water main early-February 2016, and expect the project to be completed in mid-March 2016.  Final restoration will follow the completion of the water main installation. Dates may change depending on weather and other factors. If you would like to receive regular email updates about the progress of the project, please go to http://buildinganewchicago.org/ to register for the WaterALERT program. Simply enter your name, email address and the project identification number: 1501362

By signing up for the WaterALERT emails, you will be notified as the project enters each new construction phase – from crew mobilization of equipment onto the site, to the installation of new pipes, to the final restoration of the street.

Traffic: We will allow traffic to flow on N. Southport outside of our working hours. During working hours, we will limit traffic flow on to one lane in each direction. Traffic flow may be altered from time to time with the use of flaggers, but you will always be able to reach your home or business.

Parking: Signs will be posted within work area for “No Parking” as needed, during work hours (7am- 4pm). We are agreeable to parking outside of those hours, but will have to insist that cars be moved by the start of the next workday. We will try to preserve as much parking as we can.

Can I park when you’re not working? We have no problem with you parking outside of our working hours. We have to insist that cars be out of our way at the start of the workday.

Will you shut my water off?  Yes, maybe a couple of times. When we switch over the services from the old main to the new main, we interrupt service. We give you 24-hour notice when this is to happen.  In any construction project, there is also a risk that an old pipe will break. They can be fragile. This may necessitate an emergency shutdown.  If we do this, we will let you know what is happening, even though we may be unable to give prior warning.

After your old water main has been replaced and you have been connected to your new water main, please open all your water faucets and hose taps and flush your water for 3 to 5 minutes. Sediment and metals can collect in the aerator screen located at the tip of your faucets. These screens should be removed prior to flushing. This flushing will help maintain optimum water quality by removing sediment, rust, or any lead particulates that may have come loose from your property’s water service line as a result of the water main replacement. If you have any questions or concerns about your water quality, please call us at 312-744-8190.