By Dawn De Busk
Staff Writer

NAPLES — When the Bay of Naples Bridge is built, the town will have approximately 3,000 feet of professionally installed water main capable of drawing off Chute River and becoming the foundation for future water supply projects — such fire suppression, and providing potable water to The Causeway.

Before the first construction phase of the Maine Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) bridge began earlier this month, the Town of Naples was lining up its ducks — aiming to get a water main put in place at the same time ditch drainage work is occurring, according to Selectman Rick Paraschak.

Also, the town-contracted engineer has been busy, according to Selectman Robert Caron Sr., who reported to the Naples Board of Selectmen during its Oct. 18 meeting. The town engineer has been reviewing plans and paperwork, consulting with construction supervisors and town officials, he said.

Currently, digging has started on the opposite side of Route 302 than where the town’s waterline will be put into the ground.

On Friday at 2 p.m., the official Groundbreaking Ceremony for the bridge will take place on The Causeway.

Initially, the proposed water line will not cross the bridge, and it will cost less than anticipated.

During an Oct. 4 meeting, the board shaved $15,000 off the expenses. The $285,000 project entails putting in place 12-inch pipe running underground on the Brandy Pond side of Route 302 — from Tony’s Foodland to Lake House Road, Paraschak said. The main will be between 2,500 and 3,000-feet long, he said.

In order for the cost to stay below $300,000, the amount supported by residents during Town Meeting in June, the board settled for fewer feet of pipe than hoped, Paraschak said. A proposed plan to run the water main under the riverbed was scrapped since it would have cost almost twice as much as what was budgeted.

Running the waterline to the Naples Fire and Rescue building — one of the board’s objectives — can be completed in stages in the future, depending on grants and other funding, Paraschak said. Potential Community Development Block Grants could supply the money needed to continue across the future bridge. Stubs on the water main will give business owners located along The Causeway the opportunity to hook up fire-protection sprinkler systems and access potable water. Future grant money could help pay for a back-up source of water, possibly a pump house located near Causeway Marina, he said.

Selectmen agreed it was paramount that Naples take advantage of the construction timeframe and be on board with paying for the installation of water main. MDOT will absorb the cost for portions of the project such as traffic control and paving, according to Paraschak.

“The town saves money overall by piggy-backing its water supply project on the MDOT road rebuilding project,” he said.