NORWAY – Work on the $1.5 million sewer reconstruction project is expected to begin next week, according to a timetable recently issued by Town Manager David Holt.

The project entails replacing more than 1,000 feet of sewer pipes that were installed in 1913.

McGee Construction of West Gardiner was awarded a $277,777 contract for the first phase that starts Monday. Work along King Street commences Wednesday.

From Oct. 4 through 6 work will be done on Oak Street, followed by Fern Street from Oct. 7-11, Pine to Marston streets on Oct. 12 and 13, and Pine to Hazen streets on Oct. 14 and 15.

On Oct. 18 and 19 work will be done on Marston Street, followed by Hazen, Whitman and Crescent streets through the end of October. On Nov. 1 and 2 work will done on Cummings Street.

Holt said the schedule is based on the best case scenario and things may change.

The most costly part of the project is around Fair Street, Holt said.

“Fair Street is a major project we felt we should have extra time to plan,” he said. Work on Fair, Green and Winter streets will cost about $500,000 and is slated to start next summer. Bids for it will be solicited this winter, he said.

Norway has one of the oldest sewer systems in the state, Wastewater Department Superintendent Shawn Brown of the wastewater district has said. Replacing lines started in 1992, with those on Beal and Water streets done in the past five or six years.

The town got federal stimulus money through Maine Rural Development to pay about 75 percent of the $1.5 million cost.

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