We still haven't heard anything from the city. Well, we did get a note on our door saying that starting tomorrow, water will be out for 30 minute periods, and this will last at least a week.

This is inaccurate information. The City is not contemplating any changes to the use of SeeClickFix. We encourage all citizens to use this tool. Our record of response to SCF inquiries is quite good, with a median time to resolve of about 3 days. Some items take longer, but this tool has been valuable to the citizens as well as to our organization and we just want to make sure that's clear.

Seems a so-called church called "Love Wins" Ministries is spamming the site with these bogus comments. Moderators, please consider blocking by IP, this group is angry and taking it out on us and the city of Raleigh.

I'd like another update on this project as it's STILL not complete.

An updated has been requested from Public Utilities.

The Oakwood project has been a little more challenging than we were anticipating but the good news is that we are really close to finishing. The main issue is the hardness of rock (blue granite) throughout the project corridor and the inability to blast due to proximity of the historic homes and gas mains within the street. While we were anticipating running into rock and needing to mechanically remove it, the contractor has broken two of the largest track hoe hammers that you can buy due to the fact that the rock is so hard. This is even after it has been predrilled at 12 inches on center. We were also having problems with the water main breaking (even though we hadn’t had any previous problems with it) as we were digging the rock. We increased the scope of work to replace the water main as well so those folks will not be inconvenienced again.

What’s left? We have approximately 110’ of sewer remaining on Cook St. Last week the contractor enlarged the pre drilled holes and installed expanding mortar in those holes on Monday. The expanding mortar takes a couple of days to set up but will assist with fracturing the rock and make it easier to hammer out. With that said and weather permitting, we are anticipating that they will be completely finished (paving and everything) in two to three weeks. While this project has been challenging, we are fortunate to have Moffat Pipe, Inc. as the contractor as they do a tremendous job and I can’t imagine how bad this project could have been with a subpar contractor. I have been in communication recently with Chris Crew, who I believe is on the board with the Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood, to discuss the project schedule so that he can report back via their list serve to those residents affected.

On a related note, this may be a good opportunity to let some of the residents know about the Community Development (CD) project that will be taking place within the next few months (not exactly sure of their schedule) just down the street in the area known as East College Park. In an effort for more interdepartmental collaboration, CD will be replacing all of the water and sewer mains as part of the redevelopment of the blighted area bounded by New Bern Ave, Hill, Oakwood, and Raleigh Blvd. PU is funding the replacement of those mains which are estimated to be some of the oldest in the system (1910s).

While proactive main replacement projects such as Oakwood are an extreme inconvenience to the area residents, the alternative of running the pipes to failure are even more inconveniencing and costly. Please have the resident contact me directly at the number below if they have any additional questions or comments concerning the Oakwood project. The City has a large amount of infrastructure replacement projects on the horizon and feedback from the citizens such as this will allow for smoother projects in the future.

Aaron B. Brower, P.E.
City Construction Projects Administrator
Capital Improvements Management Division
Public Utilities Department
City of Raleigh
(919) 996-3469

Thanks for fixing this issue!