By Gus Saltonstall
A major water main construction project is coming to a busy stretch of Broadway on the Upper West Side.
The city will install 2,500 feet of new 36-inch steel trunk water main pipes and 120 feet of 48-inch iron water main pipes along Broadway from West 92nd to 97th streets, and then also on West 97th Street from Broadway to Columbus Avenue, according to a presentation given to Community Board 7’s Transportation Committee on Tuesday by Maria Centeno of the New York City Department of Design and Construction [DDC].
The water main project, which is expected to begin in the fall of 2027 and end in the fall of 2030, will also add 14 fire hydrants, 300 feet of new, combined sewers, restored curbs and sidewalks, upgraded street lighting and traffic signals, and new ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps throughout the stretch.
Centeno, the DDC spokesperson, said the old water mains need to be replaced to avoid breakage that could result in flooding and service outages.
During the project, there will be necessary water shut-offs for the buildings and businesses within the Broadway and West 92nd to 97th streets corridor, for which the city says it will provide 72-hour notice, along with weekly look aheads and quarterly updates.
Multiple CB7 committee members expressed their worry to the DDC about the water shutoffs, especially for local restaurants and businesses. Outdoor dining sheds would also have to be removed if they are located in the work zones.
“I would urge giving much more advanced notice than 72 hours and also making sure to work with the businesses,” one committee member said.
Here are some of the other changes that Upper West Siders can expect with the water main work between West 92nd and 97th streets.
- Temporary street closures
- Staging areas for construction equipment
- Bus stop routes within the project limits may be affected during the construction, but those specifics have not been decided on.
Due to the excavation connected to the work, the DDC will coordinate a rodent survey of the area and install rodent control stations to try to keep the pests at bay.
Also of note, during the construction, the city will replace lead service line pipes for three qualified addresses between West 92nd and 97th streets, at no cost to the property owners, as long as they don’t opt out of the free upgrade.
You can check out the water main presentation for yourself below.
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