Brace for Construction in Area Neighborhoods

Four older neighborhoods near Snellville, Lilburn and and Norcross will soon see the beginning of projects to help alleviate water main breaks.

The construction specifically includes the Forest Vale, Pebble Creek, Johnson Estates and Hermitage Plantation neighborhoods, where a total of 4.4 miles of of water mains prone to breaking will be replaced.

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved the project contracts on Aug. 21.

-- How do you feel about Gwinnett County construction? Are these projects a good thing, or a pain? --

"Leaks and breaks are an inconvenience to water customers," said Tiffiany Shaw, a project manager with the Department of Water Resources, in written correspondence with county officials. "Not only does it undermine the confidence that citizens have in the county water service, but there are revenue losses associated when these lines breaks due to the loss of water."

Aging water mains are part of the problem, she wrote.

Forest Vale, Pebble Creek and Johnson Estates

Regarding the Forest Vale, Pebble Creek and Johnson Estates project, work is expected to begin in September 2012 and conclude in 12 months, according to county documents.

The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners awarded Lawrenceville-based G.S. Construction, Inc., a contract of $1.1 million for work. The company was the lowest bidder of eight companies.

Hermitage Plantation Work

Hermitage Plantation, which falls between Berkeley Lake and Duluth, is expected to see construction beginning in September 2012 and ending in June 2013, according to county documents.

Lawrenceville-based The Dickerson Group received the contract. The company bid $675,087. After one company withdrew, it was the lowest bidder among seven other organizations. 

Other Construction Tidbits

Jeff Boss, field operations director with the county's Department of Water Resources, said, "We use data like the age and type of pipe and frequency of repairs and service disruptions to get the best return on investments in pipe replacements."

Each of the water main projects will also include new fire hydrants. The county promises that all water services, sidewalks, yards and such will be returned to "pre-construction conditions."

Sewer Projects Also Coming

Two sewer line projects also received approval from commissioners on Aug. 21; there will be new sections of sewer lines after inspection for corrosion, grease and sediment.

According to a press release from Gwinnett County, low bidder Metals and Materials Engineers, LLC, received a contract for an East Park Place area project near Norcross at $312,624 and M.V.P. Piping Co., Inc. got a $230,929 contract for work in the Paper Mill Road area near Lawrenceville.