Journal-News.com

The city of Lebanon will replace water mains, starting in April, on Desales Avenue between North Broadway and Hartz Drive, just north of the Warren County Fairgrounds.

City council has approved a $256,322 contract with Blanchester-based Panetta Excavating for the project.

City engineer Darren Owens said the replacement was necessary because the water mains under the road are deteriorating and experienced numerous breaks during the past several years. The existing water mains also were only 6 inches in diameter, below current standards of 8 inches, Owens said.

Construction is scheduled to begin the first week of April and be completed by the end of June. Parking will be limited on street and traffic at times will be reduced to one lane, city officials said.

This is not the only construction scheduled for DeSales in the immediate future. The road is scheduled to be repaved later this year.

"We've tried to replace deteriorating parts of the infrastructure as they need it," said council member Charleen Mehaffie Flick. "During the '90s, not a lot was done and it's hurting the city now. We're trying to do what we can with the funds that we have."

Last week, traffic along North Broadway in downtown Lebanon was constricted as the city replaced storm sewers under Mulberry Street on both sides of the Broadway. The city also has started an ambitious replacement of sidewalks along Broadway and Mulberry that will continue into next year.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.