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Brownsville

By Christine Haines 2 min read

Construction to start in March on Swan plan sewerage lines BROWNSVILLE – Construction is now expected to start by the end of March for the new sewerage lines in the Swan plan.

The Brownsville Municipal Authority’s solicitor, Ernest DeHaas, said he will proceed with condemnations on three properties whose owners have not yet signed right of way agreements for the project.

“Thirty days after we serve them, we can take possession,” DeHaas said.

Once the authority has all of the rights of way it can close on financing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.

Bill Johnson of Fayette Engineering said the process should not delay putting the project out for bids, since that is also a 30-day process.

Johnson said he should have bid specifications ready to be advertised by late January and the possibility of ground breaking by the end of March.

Johnson said that despite the delays caused by not having all of the rights of way, the project has been popular with those it will benefit.

“There are 60 homes up there. We only have a problem with three. The other 57 want us to start tomorrow,” Johnson said.

In other matters, Johnson said there is apparently a problem with storm water infiltration in the sewer system in the area of Brashear Street and Apple Alley in Hiller that caused flooding during a recent heavy rain.

“We may need to repair or replace some pipe up there,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the line is some of the oldest remaining in the authority’s system and includes sections of pipe that have sunken and others that have willow roots growing into them.

Johnson said the pipe goes to a manhole on Hollow Road that reportedly had water shooting 50 feet into the air during the flooding episode.

Johnson said the infiltration also cost the authority money by increasing the amount of water treated at the plant. Johnson said the problem could progress further up the line.

“We only had one affected owner the other night. If we don’t address it, it could affect more in the future,” Johnson said.

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