Water Street big dig won't begin until 2017

After consulting with businesses in downtown St. John's, the city has decided to put off a major infrastructure project that would have seen disruptions on Water Street next year.

The City of St. John's said construction on the 100-year-oldwater and sewer systems,initially scheduledfor 2016,will not begin until 2017.

• Big dig nears for Water Street to replace century-old pipes
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According to a news release Monday, the postponement is due to the "complex nature of the project; its location in an important economic hub ...consultations withdowntown business organizations;and input from individual business owners who require more time toprepare for the construction."

Councillor Dave Lane said it was imperative to take more time and work through the details for the project.

"Basically the message was that we need a year to plan this out to make sure we have all the details in place to make sure that everyone is on the same page," said Lane.

Exploratory excavation and drilling began in July to tracewater mains and to confirmthe location of underground electrical installations.

Construction to start in west end of Water Street

The consultant, CBCL Limited, was senttovisit properties along historic Water Street to investigate water and sewer issues, and determine how the buildings connect to the main infrastructure.

The extra time availabledue to the postponement will allow utility groups to develop detailed design work, the city said, as well as ensure there are plans in place for construction,contingency and communications.

"Businesses can prepare better because they have to consider things like, 'will I need less people to work, should I hire people for just a small period of time, what's my inventory going to look like' and that's why we need the planning period," said Lane.

When construction goes ahead it willbeginon the west end of Water Street from Waldegraveto Adelaide Streets.

It's expected the project will take five yearsas it moves west to east on a cove-by-cove basis to Prescott Street.

"We are saying let's do this really, really well," added Lane. "Let's make sure we have the best outcome."