The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) in May announced the completion of a $2.25 million capital project that replaced more than a mile of old water mains in Maspeth, and was completed more than a year ahead of schedule and more than 44 percent under its original $4.06 million anticipated cost.

In order to improve water supply reliability, 5,960 feet of older water mains, many of which had been in service for 100 years, were replaced with new concrete-lined ductile iron pipes that are less vulnerable to leaks. The new mains range from 6 to 12 inches in diameter and in some areas replace smaller mains. Additionally, 19 old fire hydrants were replaced with new ones and 1,380 square feet of broken sidewalks were replaced throughout the project area.

The project, which was managed by DDC’s in-house con- struction management team, began work in July 2022 and was originally projected to take until June 2024 to com- plete. Instead, it was completed in May. The team only used about 56 percent of the original budget.