Work Continues On Water Main

SEVEN HILLS - Works crews were on the scene early Thursday morning continuing to repair the water main break at the intersection of Spring Hill Drive and Mariner Boulevard that forced the closing of one lane.

They were still at it that evening.

The "Four Corners" intersection, so dubbed because of the glut of commercial activity surrounding the site, has had more traffic accidents than any other spot in Hernando County.

Realizing that, county utility inspector Chris Soto said it was imperative the situation get fixed quickly.

Soto said the cause of the break is still being determined. However, he has a theory.

Sometimes, during new pipe installation, the mechanical joint fittings work loose and spring a leak, Soto said.

High-density, 10-inch polyethylene underground pipes can contract with hot and cold weather extremes, Soto explained. That, and the heavy traffic on that road, could have caused the problem, he added.

Fortunately, the break was caught early before too much water gushed out onto the new pavement. Soto doesn't believe it affected the supporting road bed.

"It didn't leak long enough," Soto said. "Had it been left for a long period of time, it could have done a lot of damage."

The county will not have to pay for the repairs because it had not closed out the contract with project contractor D.A.B. Constructors Inc., and the project was still in the warranty period.

Working under overcast skies Thursday, D.A.B. crews had dug down 7 to 9 feet on the southwest corner, next to the Shell lube station. Soto hopes the pipe mending can be made there without having to continue repairs across the street on the Taco Bell side.

Either way, it is expected that the outside southbound lane will be closed part of today while crews backfill the hole and clean up the repair site.

Motorists seemed to take the lane closing and road work in stride Thursday morning as traffic flowed smoothly around the barricades and orange and white traffic cones.

There was no horn honking or angry gestures from passers-by. Signs were placed well in advance of the construction, alerting motorists to the road work ahead.

Community Services Coordinator Brenda Frazier said no homes or stores were without water during the break because of a valve system D.A.B. installed during construction.