The City of Washington Board of Public Works voted to accept a bid from Cora Main to replace the Front Street water main between Market and Stafford, directing staff to proceed with material orders and project scheduling.

Unidentified Speaker 3 described Front Street as likely the town’s oldest water line with frequent breaks and said the city intends to replace it in 2025 so the work is done before a planned 2026 street reconstruction. Staff said initial materials have been ordered and they aim to start in roughly two weeks; the anticipated construction window is about a month and a half (4–6 weeks), though subsurface obstructions could extend the schedule to two months.

Board action: Unidentified Speaker 3 moved to accept Cora Main’s bid for the Front Street water main; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Service extensions and system operations: Staff also described parallel work installing a water line on Old Pottery Road and tying in homes off Don Avenue (part of the Meadowlake/Meadowood buildout), allowing sewer and water service to reach long‑unserved parcels. Speakers explained a high/low pressure separation in the system that constrains flow and fire protection in some areas and noted valve locations where the system can be isolated or opened if needed.

Why this matters: replacing an aging main on Front Street aims to reduce frequent breaks and align utility work with planned street reconstruction to minimize repeated disruptions. The project’s schedule and material status will determine traffic impacts and timing for affected businesses and residents.

Details: staff cautioned the job requires careful excavation because past backfill contains boulders and railroad ties; to streamline work, crews plan to use road plates rather than repeatedly backfilling trenches. Staff noted weather and material delivery remain variables; start dates were tied to completion of work on Old Pottery Road.

Next steps: staff will manage the contractor procurement documents, schedule the work to minimize lane closures, and return with updates as the project progresses.

Quote: "We're gonna get it done in '25 because we will also need to move to Main Street and do Main Street before they do that 1," said Unidentified Speaker 3 regarding sequencing of work.