By Desiree Williams
The 4th Street drainage improvement project hit a standstill because of an error by AT&T.
The project is in a redesign phase after AT&T incorrectly specified the measurements of its underground duct bank, which conflicts with the intended location of the new storm sewer.
Lance Lantz, superintendent of the Zionsville Street and Stormwater Dept., said the department could have moved the duct bank, but that wasn’t practical because of its size and necessary labor. Instead, the department will redesign the pipe’s route to avoid issues with the duct bank.
Lantz said the additional cost and time delay are being determined, but he estimates a three-week delay.
The project includes replacing old and undersized pipes with modern ones to reduce localized flooding. Phase 1 concluded in 2017 after replacing pipes from the south end of 4th Street to Hawthorne Street. Phase 2 is in progress and will cover Hawthorne Street to Pine Street.
Lantz said the project should be complete in a few months and that cost estimates – as well as who will pay for the revisions – are not yet known.
