Some Franklinton residents have expressed concern about the lengthy closure of Carter Street at its intersection with Main Street. Located south of downtown Franklinton, Carter itself is a very short street, but it connects to busy Harrison Street, which feeds into the East Acres subdivision.
Franklinton Mayor Darwin Sharp said this week that the closure will finally end soon. The issue is an aging water line that dates back to 1938. The water line is being replaced with an upgrade to solve water supply and pressure problems at Riverside Medical Center and other nearby buildings.
But because the water line being replaced is so ancient --- 87 years old --- the contractor on the project has encountered several obstacles. In addition to the aging pipe itself, the soil surrounding the pipeline is sinking, creating problems laying new pipe.
Inclement weather --- mainly heavy rainfall --- hasn’t helped either.
“It’s required extra work for the contractor that wasn’t anticipated,” Sharp said. But the mayor said he was very glad that the road closure and its inconvenience for residents will soon end.
One of the workers on the pipeline agreed with the mayor. “With pipe this old....you never know what you’re going to find,” he said ruefully.
