DRUMRIGHT — Drumright utility crews completed an emergency water line repair on Wood Street last Thursday despite freezing temperatures, according to City Manager Shawn Gibson.
“The water line repair was completed in approximately four hours despite 30 degrees temperatures,” said Gibson.
Unfortunately, a section of the historic brick roadway had to be temporarily removed to access aging infrastructure beneath the street.
Utility Director Nick Perez said crews were called to the area after a water line issue caused water to run down the intersecting road creating ice buildup in front of a nearby residence, preventing the homeowner from being able to safely exit.
“There’s a main right here [on Wood Street] and an old tap that feeds this building and the one next to it,” Perez said pointing out the old high school ag building. “That line has been sitting in the ground since the 1950s.”
Perez said an emergency locate was requested after crews grew concerned about forecasted temperatures and worsening conditions. Waiting for the area to dry and ice to melt was considered, but the increasing amount of ice build up prompted a faster response.
“If we can’t get a shutdown right here, we’ll have to shut down the main which would cut off water from Wood Street to Ohio Street,” Perez explained as crew members continued working.
To access the line, crews carefully removed sections of the brick roadway. Perez said the bricks were tightly compacted over a concrete base.
“When they built this road a long time ago, they did a really good job,” he said. “These bricks are very tightly compacted.”
Perez said that the historic bricks were intentionally preserved as well as possible by the utility workers during the repair. He added the bricks will be reinstalled using a layered sand base and compacted to restore the roadway as closely as possible to its original condition.
“That’s why we’re saving the brick,” Perez said. “It’s a beautiful feature, and it holds together better than most modern roads.”
Gibson confirmed the bricks removed during the repair will be replaced.