A section of Watson Parkway was closed earlier this month for watermain replacement, which is when the conflicts were noticed, a city manager says
After uncovering “utility conflicts” during a watermain replacement project on the city’s east end earlier this month, crews are set to return the site for an extended shutdown so they can complete the project.
For a three-week period beginning Sept. 8, the city will close a section of Watson Parkway South, immediately south of York Road. The watermain replacement is part of the ongoing York Road reconstruction effort that began in 2017 and, upon completion, will cover the entire road to the city’s eastern boundary.
That same spot was shut down for a few days in early August, which is when the watermain replacement was first planned.
“When we began digging, we ran into unexpected underground utility conflicts as well as bedrock. This required us to complete some additional investigations before laying the pipes. The new watermain is a concrete pressure pipe that cannot be realigned once it’s in the ground,” explained Reg Russwurm, the city’s manager of design and construction, in an email to GuelphToday. “Based on our findings, we redesigned the watermain placement to ensure we’re improving essential water services as best we can.”
During the closure, there will be no access to York Road from Watson Parkway South, but Watson Parkway North isn’t expected to be impacted.
“We know road closures are frustrating for the community and appreciate their continued patience,” wrote Russwurm. “We’ll continue to post construction updates on the York Road project webpage.”