BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA — Massena village trustees have signed off on an amendment to the village’s agreement with Wright Pierce Engineering Consultants P.C. as they con tune to design a water main replacement project. 

The water main in question would run along the South main Street bridge, replacing a water line that runs under the Raquette River. 

Trustees began to take action months ago following a second failure of the water line that required extensive repairs by divers. 

With the line leaking 60,000 to 100,000 gallons of water per day, village officials began to research options to replace the water line. 

A temporary line was put in place to ensure residents south of the bridge would still have water service, however village officials said that was only intended to be a short-term fix. 

The repairs, which took three days to complete, cost the village just over $11,000. 

Village Department of Public Works Superintendent Marty Miller said he has been working with the state Department of Transportation and Wright Pierce on the project ever since. 

Village officials previously signed off o the agreement with the engineering firm a year ago, kick starting the design phase of the extensive project. 

With the contract signed the firm will design the project, which will then in turn be submitted to the state DOT for approval, Miller said. 

Miller said the review process would likely include requests from the DOT for modifications to be made to the project as the firm continues with the design process. 

Miller previously said the state DOT must approve the project because the bridge sits on a state highway, making it their jurisdiction. 

Another aspect of Wright Pierce’s work includes aiding with pre-engineering reports that will help with grant applications. 

It was announced during the June meeting that the village would seek a state Water Infrastructure Improvement Grant through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation to help offset the cost of the project. 

Trustees also signed off on a $4.7 million bond during the June meeting to cover the cost of water distribution system improvement that would be incurred with the new water main project. 

Miller said regardless of the grant status, the project will be shovel ready when the grant awards are announced. 

“We’ll be ready to go,” he said.