The Bath Water District will soon begin the second phase of its Miller Road project in Woolwich. Trevor Hunt, BWD superintendent, briefed Woolwich selectmen on the work March 22.

Hunt explained part of the project involves laying a new eight-inch main along the northbound lane of Main Street (Route 1) beginning at a vacant lot at the Miller Street intersection. It will run southward to Old Arrowsic Road continuing down the street and linking up to an existing main.

“The work includes installing at least one new fire hydrant on the Old Arrowsic Road to provide increased fire protection for the homes and businesses on this side of Route 1,” he said. 

BWD plans to advertise the work for contractor bids this week. “We’re hoping to be able to get the work out to bid by the end of this week, or at least the end of the month,” Hunt told the Wiscasset Newspaper March 23.

“If possible we are hoping to have a quick turnaround for the bid opening, perhaps two to three weeks so we can get the project under way as soon as possible before other Route 1 work begins,” he continued. The state is planning to repave a portion of Route 1 in Woolwich from the Taste of Maine Restaurant to Montsweag Roadhouse.

After the project gets under way, Hunt estimates it will take about two weeks to complete. “We’ve been working with (the Maine Department of Transportation) regarding the location of the new pipe,” he said. BWD is installing its new main under the sidewalk so as to have the least impact on Route 1 traffic.

MDOT may require BWD to keep the sidewalk open for people to use during construction. “We don’t have the provisions of our permit from the MDOT as yet, but we are anticipating that we will need to have accommodations for any pedestrian traffic during that part of the construction,” Hunt told selectmen.

“BWD has identified a number of water main installations throughout our distribution that were installed in easements through what was once open fields or even between residences due to ledge. It was fairly common practice during the early development of the system to take the most direct route,” he explained.

Hunt estimated the cost of the project at approximately $150,000. Wright Pierce Engineers of Topsham did the design work, he added.

 Phase 1 of the Miller Road project was completed in the summer of 2013. The work included removal of a 16-inch main from the BWD system and related easements. Hunt said a new eight-inch main was installed in the right-of-way and through new easements to provide “a more reliable pipe loop” that incorporated the Hanson Bay subdivision pipe. He said the improvements cost $125,600.