Two major Chandler City projects nearing completion

Wanda Nichols photo LAYING IT DOWN TO FINISH IT UP-- Randy Tapp, of Daniel Asphalt Paving in Athens gives the thumbs-up to the dump truck driver to begin releasing the hot asphalt into the paving machine on Martin Street while Patricio Velazquez rakes off any excess from the concrete curb. Ricky Daniel, owner of Daniel Asphalt Paving follows behind on a roller.

Following a few unanticipated setbacks the city of Chandler's sewer and Martin Street projects are nearing completion. The $809,654 sewer project

which consisted of the construction of a new lift station and laying 16,611 lateral feet of 8-inch pressure and gravity lines, is expected to be up and running by mid-December.

"We're down to the last little bit," said city adminstrator Jim Moffeit. "If all goes well it should be op- erational in the next two weeks."

Construction on the project began in June that involved the collection system. A new state-of-the-art lift station was built on the south side of Highway 31, near the eastern city limits, to accommodate the city's growing needs, and replace three outdated lift stations.

"If everything in the lift station works, then we'll begin to cut out the older, smaller lift stations that were built in the 60s," Moffeit said. "They were high maintenance lift stations and were costing the city alot of money."

Most of the work now involves the process of cleaning up and sowing seed, Moffeit said.

"The lines are down and the pumps are being installed this week," said city water superintendent Stanley McCurley. "All the testing is done on the lines. The only thing they lack is the electricity. They (TXU) will have to set some secondary poles in order to run electricity to it."

McCurley said complications arose when workers began digging the line trenches along both sides and under Highway 31 at the slew bridge in order to tie in the lines to the new lift station. Plans called for the lift station to be built 30 feet deep, and the lines that led to and from the new lift station to be at a certain depth to accommodate the gravity pull. In order to lay the lines at the required depth, well-points were drilled every five feet to lower the water table.

"With those well points they were pumping water out of the ground in excess of 300 gallons per minute," McCurley said. "That was the main hold up, contending with that water. It was an undertaking."

McCurley said once the project is complete, the new system will serve the city of Chandler for years to come.

General contractor on the project was Wilkins Contracting, from Tyler.

Barring inclement weather, the Martin Street project is scheduled for completion by the end of the week.

"We had a lot of delays," McCurley said. "We had some problems with right-of-ways and easements. We also had to make some adjustments due to the underground utilities."

The project was awarded to Stan's Backhoe Service for $610,507.10, and included tearing out approximately 6,000 ft. of exisitng road and laying down new pavement, curb and guttering, and drainage improvements. The street was widened to better accommodate bus traffic to the intermediate school.

McCurley, owner of Stan's Backhoe Service, said the schedule was to complete the asphalt this week.

"We've got the clean-up work then we're through," he said. Once the project is finished, a grand opening complete with a ribbon cutting will be held, Moffeit said.