BY RICHELLE THOMPSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEBANON -- Construction work on Silver Street has been like an archaeological dig. Contractors from Brock & Sons of Fairfield keep finding remnants of Lebanon's past, such as old water and gas lines.
The problem is that moving these gas lines or navigating the water pipes costs time and money. It already has delayed construction, which began in early July, by about two weeks, City Engineer Barry Conway said.
The $622,000 Silver Street project essentially calls for gutting the street from Broadway to Mound, then laying storm sewer lines, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and pavement.
The storm sewer line must follow a particular route underneath the six-block area, Mr. Conway said.
The task is "trying to snake this storm system through all these existing utilities," he said.
In addition to finding gas and water lines at various depths, workers also found abandoned pipes dating back to the 1930s, city manager Richard Hayward said.
Meanwhile, traffic still is being diverted around Silver Street, an important artery in the city.
Mr. Conway said he hopes the project is completed by October.
