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City Beat
Work on new water main jams traffic on Hamilton
San Jose Water Co. replacing old pipe in Campbell, WG
By Kate Carter
Motorists traveling on Hamilton Avenue near Leigh Avenue may have noticed some traffic congestion as the San Jose Water Company works to replace a water main there.
West Valley Construction, contracted by the water company to install 1,400 feet of water main pipe, began work below the road Nov. 8, said Campbell Public Works Inspector Alan Hom.
"It's a very ambitious job there," Hom said. "They're progressing fairly well right now."
The city of Campbell is overseeing the work that affects the eastbound traffic on Hamilton Avenue between April Way and Leigh Avenue in Campbell's jurisdiction. San Jose has jurisdiction over the westbound side of the street.
The new 36-inch pipe will replace an older pipe of the same size that runs along the north side of Hamilton, he said.
The new stretch will connect to the existing main on the south side of Hamilton Avenue at April Way. During the night from Dec. 7 to 8, crews crossed the new pipe diagonally across Leigh Avenue to connect it to the existing main on the north side of Hamilton there, Hom said.
Once the new main is laid, the water company will disinfect the pipe, test the pipe for leaks and take samples of water to make sure it's safe, he said.
After everything has passed inspection, crews will turn off water to customers along the old main and attach them to the new main. Hom said affected customers will be notified of the changeover in advance and it will likely happen during the night when it will least inconvenience homes and businesses.
"It won't be a surprise unless someone decided at 3 a.m. to take a shower," he said.
Hom said conditions of the company's permit to do the work required it to end construction daily by 4 p.m. and to maintain travel on Hamilton Avenue at all times.
The construction crews have been removing road asphalt in parts and repaving areas behind them as they go, he said. Although the pavement will be replaced over the pipe by the time it is tested for leaks, the company will use a pressure gauge and leak detectors to make sure not water is escaping from the new pipe.
If it is, then crews will have to tear up the road again to fix the leak, Hom said.
This project is just one in the water company's ongoing water main updating cycle, he said. Last summer, the company replaced a main on Bascom Avenue between Camden Avenue and Redding Road. The company is submitting plans to replace mains on residential Ridgeley Drive and Midway Street in Campbell, but those are still in the preliminary stages, Hom said.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
