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Huntington construction projects to start as temps get warmer

Warm weather will bring with it the start of the latest in a series of a long-term construction projects designed to keep raw sewage out of area rivers.

Anthony Goodnight, director of public works and engineering services for the city of Huntington, told members of the Huntington Common Council on Tuesday morning, March 26, that preliminary work has already begun on one of the projects.

Duke Energy has started relocating about 13 utility poles in the Frederick Street area so that work on that project can begin in early May, Goodnight said.

The Frederick Street project involves the installation of an interceptor sewer line that will capture overflows from the combined wastewater/storm-water line. The interceptor line will carry the overflow to the treatment plant instead of allowing it to flow into the river.

Construction will take place along Frederick Street and portions of Jefferson, Clark and William streets.

A companion project, the Rabbit Run project, is behind schedule, Goodnight said, with bids expected to be received in July or August.

The Rabbit Run project includes installation of two equalization basins south of the river. When more water and sewage comes into the treatment plant than the plant can handle, the excess will be diverted to lagoons. It will be stored for 48 hours and slowly released into the treatment plant.

Construction for the Rabbit Run project will take place mainly on the west end of William Street.

Bids were received last week for an unrelated sewer project, Goodnight said, which will open up an additional 450 acres north of U.S.-24 for development.

Two sewers currently run underneath U.S.-24 to serve the area north of Huntington, Goodnight said, and both are running at capacity. A new line will be installed from Stults Road, near Parkview Huntington Hospital, and run underneath the highway to Carlisle Crossing.

The project should be complete by the end of 2013.

In other business, Mayor Brooks Fetters told council he plans to organize a Mayor's Advisory Council on Community Accessibility.

Council members will help determine priorities as the city works to improve the accessibility of all its facilities.