Construction Project Will Tie Up Busy Del Mar Boulevard, Starting Today

A project to replace an aging water main along a very busy section of Del Mar Boulevard between Caltech and South Lake Avenue is set to start on Thursday.

Traffic lanes may be temporarily closed during construction on weekdays from between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. over the next two months, a Pasadena Water and Power official said.

Customers who live along the route will also face water shutoff when time comes to hook them into the new water main.

The work, along a 1,843-foot stretch of road comprised of multifamily residential and commercial properties, includes replacing all fire hydrants along the route and connecting individual water services to the new main line.

“The eight-inch or nine-inch line we have out there is past 90 years old, so we’re getting ready to replace it with more modern and bigger pipes,” said Margie Otto, Marketing Manager at Pasadena Water and Power.

Streets will remain open for through traffic and all traffic lanes will be open during evenings and weekends, says PWP, which has placed signs near the construction to alert commuters of alternative routes.

“We’re working with the third-party contractor, and more recently we’ve done a lot of coordinating with the customers to make sure that they have access to other routes in and out of their areas,” Otto said. “We’ll put up digital signs to make sure alternative routes are recommended.”

PWP says impacted water customers can expect to receive at least 24 hours advance notice of any interruption of water service.
The pipeline will increase the overall reliability and quality of water service, says PWP. The water main being replaced was installed in 1926.

Otto advises PWP customers to check the project website, www.pwpweb.com/delmar, for updates and advisories.