Expect to see the area around the Civic Centre to be ripped up in the near future.
Work will commence shortly on a $3,071,828 project by the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission to relocate a sanitary pump station to a site near the intersection of King Street West and Second Street.
The existing pump station has been in operation since 1963 and is currently underground in the staging area in front of Station One of the Chatham-Kent Fire Service.
This location creates operational and safety challenges for the PUC, officials said, as access and egress of emergency vehicles from the fire station cannot be impeded. The existing station is also experiencing on-going maintenance issues due to its age.
It is being moved to the northeast corner of the intersection outside of the paved roadway. All work will be on the municipal boulevard and within the adjacent corner of the existing Chatham-Kent Police Services parking lot.
Officials anticipate the construction work also take place outside of the paved roadway and there should be minimal to no impediment to traffic during the first phase of the project from January to May.
Seven municipal parking spaces along King Street West will be allocated to the contractor as part of their laydown area. In addition, the sidewalk at the east corner of King and Second Street will be closed.
Construction of the pump station is scheduled to be completed in May. Work to reconstruct and redirect sewers to this new station are then scheduled to start.
This work will be within the roadway, and temporary closures, lane diversions and on-street parking restrictions can be expected as sewer construction is executed.
Municipal officials say they anticipate the project will be completed by November.
Birnam Excavating Limited of Arkona will be doing the work.
