Heather Wright/The Independent

Work on a watermain expansion down Petrolia Line is likely to start the third week of August.

That’s according to Alex Morfin, the manager of the project from BM Ross and Associates. The Town of Petrolia held a public meeting Monday to outline the project. Only four residents came to town hall for the event.

Town council gave the green light for the project which will upsize a water main on Petrolia Line from the bridge at Bridgeview Park to Oil Heritage Road. 

The town received over $1 million from the feds to be spent over the two years of the project. 

Morfin says the old eight-inch water main will be removed and the new, 12 inch watermain will be laid in the same spot. The new watermain will increase the volume of water by 50 per cent, allowing the town to provide service to the south east quadrant of Petrolia. It’s expected to be the next area of housing development.

The contractor is likely to begin work on the 2025 phase of the project in the third week of August, working from the bridge to Kentail Street on the north side of the road.

There are about 30 homes in that stretch from the bridge to First Street. There are no sidewalks or defined boulevards where the watermain would normally be found.

Morfin says the contractor will be working within the town’s right of way on each property, about five meters from the curb. 

He agrees for some homeowner’s who are close to the road, the construction could take up much of their front yard in that area.

“Their yard is going to be completely excavated …between the curb and their property line,” Morfin tells The Independent.

Driveways will also be affected, however Morfin says homeowners will likely only lose access for one day when the new watermain is laid down. 

The other days, the contractor will be making sure homeowners can access their driveway. 

Those with asphalt driveways will likely have to wait until the end of November – when this year’s construction is complete, to have their drives replaced.

Morfin says there will be people directing traffic at some points during construction however the road will not have to be dug up for the project.