JAY — Construction to install a new water line and associated parts on Smith Avenue and a section of Route 4 and Route 140, is expected to begin Friday, Mike Wells, superintendent of the Jay Village Water District, said.

The aging line has had several breaks over the past two years, causing customers in that area to go without water until repairs could be made.

A 10-inch cross valve will be installed on Intervale Road (Route 140) and 1,200 feet of 10-inch waterline will be installed along Smith Avenue and up Route 4 a short distance to Norton’s Eye Care, he said.

Hydrants and valves will also be replaced.

Workers from E.L.Vining & Son of Farmington, the low bidder of three for the project, put up a sign about the project Wednesday morning on the lawn at the Town Office.

There may be some trench cutting done Thursday, weather permitting, Wells said.

Once the new line is installed, it will be pressurized to make sure there are no leaks before it’s tied into lines on Merriman, Bucklin and Stone streets, he said.

The project cost is $220,000.

The water district received notice in August 2013 that it had been awarded a $680,000 low-interest loan and a $530,000 grant to replace water mains to improve water flow for fire suppression and system reliability for that project and for another one on Route 4 that is expected to be done in 2015.

In the second project, the water district plans to replace the water main and associated valves, services and hydrants along Route 4 from Spruce Mountain High School in Jay to just south of Tweedie Street in conjunction with state road work.

The Maine Department of Transportation plans to improve 1.25 miles of Route 4 from Pineau Street to just south of Tweedie Street in Jay. The Jay Village Water District and Livermore Falls Water District will do respective waterline replacement at the same time as the state’s road work.

The town of Jay will also replace sewer lines, if needed, at the same time.

The state’s Route 4 project was advertised Sept. 24 and the deadline for bids has changed three times. They are now set to be opened on Oct. 29, according to the MDOT’s website.

The state anticipates awarding the contract for the project within 30 days and some construction could begin by December, MDOT Project Manager Rhobe Moulton said.

Completion is anticipated in the fall of 2016.

The programmed construction amount is $4.8 million, she said.

The project will include substantial utility work.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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