Juniper Street sees fix after decades of flooding

After years of flooding problems, the city is replacing the watermain and sanitary sewers along the street. Work is expected to begin in April and finish by the end of June, although the bulk of the project will be completed by the end of May.

Construction, of course, will offer some short-term headaches for residents in the area, but those gathered at a recent public information session seem to believe the long-term gain seems well worth the hassle.

City staff indicated construction might block driveways, so residents on the street will be given a temporary parking permit that will allow them to park elsewhere within a two-block radius. However, it’s not a free pass to park anywhere and some conditions apply, city staff cautioned.

There will be open excavations during the day but crews will back-fill the holes before they leave for the night.

While construction is taking place, residents along the street will be hooked up to a temporary water supply. That water will be carried to homes by fire hose-type apparatus. Residents were assured the water is chlorinated, will be monitored and meets the city’s requirements for potable water.

Front lawns might see some damage over the course of the project, but city staff assured residents everything will be reinstated to equal or better conditions.

Orléans Coun. Bob Monette said residents on the street have lost thousands of dollars to flooding, which destroyed memorabilia and furniture in basements. Every time there was a major storm, he continued, the area would see flooding. It happened in 1994, 1998, and 2006. “Every time it affected Juniper,” Monette said.

When he was elected into office the residents in the area contacted Monette, he recounted, telling him it’s not right they’re continuously flooded. They asked for a long term solution. “Tonight we’re going in the right direction,” Monette said of the planning that will see Juniper Street get a new watermain and sanitary sewer system. “The residents won’t have to worry every time it rains.”