New Water Main Installation Begins in Menlo Park

Cal Water started a water infrastructure upgrade near Hillview Middle School in Menlo Park that will strengthen water system reliability and infrastructure resiliency for customers’ everyday needs and firefighters’ emergency needs.

The project, which is expected to take eight weeks to complete, includes the installation of 2,548 feet of new 12-inch ductile iron water main and 35 new individual customer service connections. Installation will take place on Santa Cruz Avenue, from Olive Street to Orange Avenue. Crews will also install five new fire hydrants as part of the project. Road closures in the immediate vicinity of Hillview Middle School are expected to begin the week of March 2.

Crews will make every effort to minimize traffic delays, particularly during school start and end times, and ensure that residents in the immediate vicinity will have access to their homes during construction. The work will be performed Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Following installation, crews will conduct water quality testing and connect individual service lines to the new water main. Water service must be temporarily interrupted for one to two hours as crews connect customers’ service lines to the main; however, Cal Water will notify residents in advance of any planned shutdowns, which are normally scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Crews will also restore all streets, sod, and landscaping impacted by the construction.

“This important infrastructure upgrade will enable us to continue to deliver a reliable supply of safe, high-quality drinking water to our customers, both now and for decades to come. Additionally, it will help first responders protect the community in the event of an emergency,” said District Manager Dawn Smithson. “Proactive upgrades such as this are part of our promise to deliver quality, service, and value to Menlo Park residents and businesses, and we thank residents and all those at Hillview Middle School for their patience during this water system improvement project.”