Water main work will cause detours along Route 9 in Lakewood

If you travel Route 9 in Lakewood, whether it's heading to and from work or a social activity, you may want to plan an alternate route if possible.

New Jersey American Water has announced that their contracted crews will be replacing five-miles worth of 6 and 8 inch cast iron water main lines that were installed back in the 1960's with new 12-inch ductile iron main as well as replacing 39 fire hydrants and 215 utility owned service lines.

The work will be done along Route 9 from Locust Street to West Kennedy Boulevard and then on Main Street from Route 9 to Clifton Avenue.

“This pipeline is a critical piece of infrastructure that supplies water directly to thousands of customers in Lakewood,” Carmen Tierno, Senior Director Operations for New Jersey American Water’s Coastal Region, said in a statement. “Replacing these water mains will improve the delivery of water service to our customers and will strengthen our system for future reliability.”

It's a costly project too, footing a $10 million bill but all to clean up and provide safer and healthier water for you as well as other residents, businesses and first responders.

New Jersey American Water said that they are bringing in local contractor, CRJ Contracting, Inc. to work on these water main upgrades starting on January 23 with all work expected to be done -- in about one year.

The crews will be out across Route 9 and the aforementioned streets between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am between Sunday and Thursday.

“We have been working directly with Lakewood Township officials and the New Department of Transportation to upgrade this important section of water main prior to the upcoming paving of this roadway,” Tierno said.