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Construction has begun on a $400,000 water main project that will insure water service on the south side of Route 13.  An approximately 200 foot pipe will be installed in a hole that is being drilled under the highway adjacent to the rear of the Triphammer Road Tops market that will bring water to the southern portion of the Village of Lansing and act as a backup for the Bolton point Water Commission infrastructure.

"The Village has an 8 inch line under Route 13 now on the south side," said Village of Lansing Mayor Donald Hartill Monday.  "That line is a very deep, around 50' in some places, and is getting long in the tooth."

Hartill says  that drilling beneath Route 13 is best accomplished when the ground is frozen.  Hee said construction officially began last week.  It will replace the Village pipe, and act as a backup for Bolton Point to make sure the southern part of its water distribution system, including the Town of Ithaca, will have reliable service.

"We found a location that, with a modest amount of re-plumbing and valves, we can use our local line," Hartill explained.  "If Bolton point has trouble we can then valve in that supply through our line back into the transmission line on the other side and still have all of our facilities."

The Village is sharing the cost with Bolton Point.  Rather than installing a 10 inch pipe that would be sufficient for Village needs, a 14 inch pipe is being installed so it can be used as a backup in the event the main Bolton Point pipe fails.  Hartill said the Village has been ready to go ahead, but it took a lot of convincing to get the water commission on board.  The Village and Bolton Point will each pay half.

"It's been incredibly painful to accomplish this.  It's an absolute no-brainer, but People were not understanding," Hartill said.  "It's the kind of project that saves the Village and Bolton Point each about $200,000 by having a joint project.  It's a win-win for everybody."

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