Spring start to 5 years of Water Street upgrades in St. John's

The City of St. John's is moving ahead with plans to upgrade aging water and sewer infrastructure along Water Street in the downtown area.

Following the tendering process, Phase 1should begin in April. Workwill include installation of new manholes,catchbasinsand leads, and storm sewers at the Water Street/Adelaide Street/Bishop's Cove intersection.

Once the water and sewer work is completed, the intersection will be reconfigured with accessible pedestrian signals

Originally the city had planned to dig up large sections of Water Street to upgrade the infrastructure, which became known as the proposed "big dig."

However, the city abandoned that plan for a trenchless method after significant public outcry about the impactit would have on businesses and services in the area.

• Water Street 'big dig' ditched for trenchless method: Here's how it will work

The five-year plan is estimated to cost about $15.5 million.

Other phases

The upgradeswill happen in sections each year until 2022, under the following schedule:

• Phase 1(2018) Queen Street to Bishop's Cove
• Phase 2(2019) Bishop's Cove to Ayre's Cove
• Phase 3(2020) Ayre'sCove to Clift's-Baird'sCove
• Phase 4(2021)Clift's-Baird'sCove to Job's Cove
• Phase 5(2022) Install CIPP liner in brick sewer and Waldegrave/Water Street intersection

The city says some service disruptions will be unavoidable.

Butit will work to ensure people still have access to businessesalong Water Street, that water services and traffic are disrupted only temporarily and that the public is briefed on the work as it continues.