Emergency projects keep city out of hot water

PALMER — After a summer spent navigating detours, drivers in downtown have much to be thankful for.

With all the complaints that came in about the seemingly constant road work, Public Works Director Carter Cole would like to set the record straight.

“The questions have been resurfacing,” Cole said. “Why did we use the methods we did? Why was it declared an emergency? Well, let me explain.”

On June 16, a water main broke underneath Alaska Street in downtown. Upon inspection, 12 feet of the pipe was cracked and the city determined it needed to replace the section from Evergreen Avenue to Dahlia Street.

With the pipe out of commission, much of the town was without protection of fire hydrants.

“A big fire may have jeopardized a big section of the city,” Cole said.

Hence, the emergency declaration.

“If we would have actually had an emergency, people would have know why we did what we did,” Cole said.

The city was able to use funding from the state for 70 percent of this phase one project. This was completed in about a week, Cole said.

Using listening devices, the city knew the section further south underneath Colony Way needed replacing. Cole’s department didn’t have immediate plans to replace this section, but a week after phase one was compete, the main burst. Phase two was pushed up, and the section of main from Evergreen Avenue to Fireweed Avenue was replaced.

While finishing up phase two, the city started pursing grant money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Phase three happened when water started shooting out Alaska Street at its intersection with Dahlia Street.

“We were basically left with no choice,” Cole said.

Work started on Aug. 1 and was competed by Aug. 27. The city was relatively stable for the Alaska State Fair, Cole said.

Phase four started when the city found leaking pipes where it crossed in front of the railroad tracks between Evergreen Avenue and Fireweed Avenue.

“We felt it would not have lasted, and it could have left a lot of the citizens without water,” Cole said.

Now, Cole said, there has been a significant reduction in the amount of water Palmer puts into the system. With a project in the Gulkana Street area next year, the water loss should be reduced even further, he said.

What’s more, Cole said the city has received its first reimbursement check from stimulus money and another is on the way. The city will be reimbursed for almost the entire cost, he said.

“The ADEC funding, the city council and the city manager are to thank,” Cole said. “There were buildings at risk, a serious potential for a loss of property. The whole thing was not planned.”

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.