Select Board approves Drake Water transmission-main permit to improve pressure and fire flow

The Kingsboro Select Board voted June 1 to approve a Class 3 road‑opening permit for the Drake Water Supply District to install a transmission main and relocate an undersized, flood-prone pump station out of the street.

Mary Danielson, project manager with Tighe & Bond, described the work as a transmission main — "not water services off of it" — that will loop the system, provide improved pressure and add hydrants to address areas that currently lack fire protection. She said the project minimizes property impacts by not installing house service branches along the route, and that the district will repave travel lanes and coordinate traffic-management plans and police details during construction.

The contractor is under contract and ready to start; Danielson said the work timeline is roughly three months of active construction plus a month of follow-up, depending on site conditions. Mr. Xu, the district superintendent, and district staff told the board the project is funded by the water district and state loan programs and will not create additional charges to Kingsboro residents beyond their water rates.

Select Board members asked about notifications, bus and school impacts, added hydrants, water pressure and the process for residents who might later request service connections; staff said the town and district will post project notices, use reverse‑911 for outages and maintain resident access during construction.

The board approved the permit by voice vote.