Village of Lewiston pursuing money for water infrastructure improvement

Goal is to enhance firefighting capabilities

√ If awarded funding, project could begin in one year

Article and Photos by Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

At their first work session of the fall, trustees in the Village of Lewiston voted Tuesday to pursue additional funding for a project designed to strengthen water pressure on Center Street.

The Village Board adopted two resolutions: one for authorization and appropriation of a local match (30%) for a Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant through the state Environmental Facilities Corp. for funding to the New York Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA); and a second authorizing a professional services agreement for design, construction administration and inspection services to be managed by Nussbaumer & Clarke.

Following a 2020 fire at the Brickyard Brewing Company, municipal leaders said the available water pressure along Center Street is not optimal.

At that time, Lewiston No. 1 Fire Co. Chief Les Myers called the blaze “an eye-opener to some of the people in the village about the water issues that we do have. … We had a meeting … and we actually have a group with the DPW, a couple of board members, myself and the village engineer, we're meeting later this week just to start some conversation on how to make some improvements to the water infrastructure in the village. And they're writing a grant for that.”

At the work session, the resolution noted the village’s project cost estimate for the water system resiliency upgrades project is $1,200,000. The WIIA, through the state Environmental Facilities Corp., is authorized to fund up to 70% of the project cost ($840,000) – thus making the share requirement $360,000.

The professional services agreement with Nussbaumer & Clarke, meanwhile, would not exceed $240,000.

To date, the village has received $959,752 (with a 20% share) through an Environmental Protection Agency Community Grant.

Village Engineer Mike Marino said the new grants applied for are intended to supplement the existing funding. Notification of awards is expected by year’s end.

After the 2020 fire, the board worked to expand the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program map to include Center Street, hoping that would open the door for additional grant opportunities.

Following Tuesday’s meeting, Marino explained the water system resiliency upgrades would initially span the length of the Niagara Scenic Parkway overpass – as Ridge Road turns into Center Street – and continue to Center and Ninth streets. A new, 12-inch-in-diameter water pipe would be installed, stretching a few thousand feet end to end.

This work will be done underneath the overpass – not along the bridge. Marino said construction would most likely bore into the parkway.

“There used to be a line that ran across the bridge, but nobody's a real big fan of running lines across bridges, because what if they leak? What if there's a problem?” Marino said.

“The town had done a project several years ago that they crossed the parkway,” he said. “Two pits and bored underneath. So, we probably would bore across within the right of way and then come up like outside of where Tops is, right where the entrance to the parkway is, and there'd be a chamber there that would come up.”

Department of Public Works Superintendent Anthony Mang provided more details.

“Basically, there is a fire hydrant on the town’s side of the bridge. That is a dead-end line for their system. We are going to grab the end of that line, continue the 12-inch underneath the actual drive lanes of the parkway, and then it’s going to come up the other side, go right in front of Tops, and tie into our system at Ninth Street,” he said.

He further noted of the boring process, “The way they do it is they push big rods through to create a channel. And then, as they pull the rod out, they pull the pipe through. It will be one seamless thing.”

The Village of Lewiston’s intended water system resiliency upgrades would take place below the Niagara Scenic Parkway overpass – not on the bridge – and continue up Center Street to Ninth Street.

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With construction taking place underground, Marino said he didn’t think parkway traffic would be adversely impacted.

If the village can obtain additional grant money, “We might actually be able to do a little more, probably up towards Artpark, and help with the flows and things up there, too. But at least we'll have redundancies,” Marino said.

He noted the DPW keeps track of water main problems, and “certainly there's lots of areas of the village that could use replacement.

“The secondary feed was a priority, because we've had issues with the fires, and what if that 100-year-old main – one connection we have – breaks during a fire? Then what do we do?”

If funding is granted as hoped for, Marino said the water system resiliency upgrades could begin in the fall of 2026 – and might be completed in as little as three months.

“If things timed out well, you probably would be starting it in the fall, working towards the winter – because they are just going to be boring underneath – and then doing some excavation, so they can do restoration then in the spring,” he said. “It would be nice if it turns out that way.”

“It’s been a long time coming,” Marino added.

Work session news

Trustees also discussed:

•Enabling waterfront slipholders access to Wi-Fi. This amenity could be included in the next lease agreement.

•Revoking the lease of any slipholder who “sublets” their slip, or routinely allows another vessel to park in their reserved space.

•Increasing the dumpster tipping fee.

•Curtailing unwanted door-to-door solicitation.

No action was taken on any of these items.