Scene from the August, 2008 Leslie Depot fire depicts the overall damage to the building during the Labor Day weekend event.

The two-block section of Cedar Street that was  affected lay between Flottmann Road and Second Street. City crews made the first repairs in the Cedar Street Project by replacing a rusted metal culvert at Cedar and Second Streets today. Once the culvert is in place, a new waterline will eventually be run on top of the culvert.

Today, the city hopes to get rock hauled in, allowing the street to be reopened later in the day.

A few months ago, Landwehr recommended the project to the Board of Aldermen who approved the plan.

 “A new six-inch waterline will loop from the dead end at Main and Second Streets to Flottmann Road. The water main will then be run up to Pine and First Streets,” Landwehr said. 

An additional fire hydrant will be installed at Flottmann Road and Cedar Street.

Work today was delayed when the city’s backhoe ruptured a hose. The city crew was attempting to lift a boulder approximately 21 inches thick and three feet long which was laying on top of culvert, according to Landwehr. The boulder had been used as fill on top of the old culvert.

Nearly $3,000 was spent for new culvert­ material—an additional culvert will be replaced when the waterline is laid.

While the city had nearly $2,000 worth of parts on hand for the waterline, another $10,000 in parts still needed to be ordered. That puts a total price tag on the project of $15,000.

Landwehr says the street surface above the old culverts had sunk up  to 12 inches in places. Replacing the culverts will prevent further damage to the streets.

The new waterline and fire hydrant will increase water volume for fire protection. In addition, the added water volume will enable future development in the area west of Cedar Street.

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