FARMINGTON — Perham Street at the intersection with Broadway was reduced to one lane Monday as a crew began to replace a sewer main.

The 500-feet-sewer-main project began a week earlier than anticipated, Town Manager Richard Davis said. The contract with T-Buck Construction of Auburn calls for the project to be substantially completed by Nov. 23 with final completion on Dec. 8. With the earlier start, Davis expects the dates can be moved up by a week to Nov. 16 and final completion by Dec. 1, he said.

The old main that is being replaced is on the east side of the street. There will, however, be four or five cuts across the street for services on the other side of the street, he said.

“The main being replaced is a very old clay line that has numerous problems with tree roots, ground water infiltration, etc. Due to its age, there are no plans or specifications on it and no end manholes to allow for cleaning and inspection. This 500-foot project will take care of the problem in that area,” Davis said. 

Selectmen awarded the contract for the work during their Oct. 11 meeting. The Auburn company was the low bidder of two bids for the project at $139,496. E.L. Vining & Son of Farmington was the other bidder at $192,777.

The town has $131,000 left from a USDA grant for the Tannery Brook project that began on Perham Street. The funds can be used on something else sewer-related.

The cost above $131,000 will be taken from a sewer reserve account that has $36,381.61 in it, Davis said last week.

The construction company is storing heavy equipment for the project at the Willow Springs site on Fairbanks Road, co-owner Buzz Davis, said Monday. The housing project at the site of the former dowel mill has been delayed allowing the owners, Davis and William Marceau, to help the town by providing use of the empty space during the project, he said.

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