City of Arlington deploys trenchless solutions for water main renewal
Arlington Water Utilities has launched a major effort to modernize nearly a mile of century-old water distribution mains in the city’s downtown, with completion expected by 2026. The upgrades come after a private contractor incident earlier this year revealed the vulnerability of the outdated cast-iron system, some of which dates back to the early 1900s.
The project spans several key streets, including North Mesquite, North West, West Front, North Oak, North Pecan, and East Division, where deteriorating mains are being replaced using trenchless methods, Hoodline reported. By avoiding traditional open-cut excavation, Arlington aims to minimize disruption, lower costs, and extend the system’s lifespan with less community impact.
According to Hoodline, The initiative is being led by the city’s in-house engineering and construction crews—an advantage not all municipalities possess. Senior Engineer John Morgan, who designs more than 30,000 linear feet of water and sewer projects annually, developed the blueprints for the trenchless upgrades. “We have the in-house design and the in-house construction crews that a lot of cities don’t have,” said Angelo Dupont, Arlington Water Utilities Field Operations Sector Manager.
City officials say the project reflects Arlington’s growing reliance on innovative rehabilitation strategies to address aging underground infrastructure while maintaining essential services for residents.
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