Following less-than-ideal construction conditions to start the week of May 30, work to provide some Lewes residents with sanitary services has begun.

Teal Construction has started assembling sanitary pipes in a staging area for the Delaware Clean Water Initiative’s pilot program, the Donovan Smith Manufactured Home Park Sewer and Water Extension Project. The Dover-based company started the piping connections June 1.

George, Miles and Buhr engineer Duane Hoffman, GMB’s project representative, said crews will assemble the piping in the staging area prior to delivering it to Donovans Road to minimize unnecessary lane closures. Hoffman said road work on Donovans Road will begin Friday, June 2.

According to the Lewes Board of Public Works, the water main will be extended from just beyond the Lewes-Georgetown Trail to the intersection of Savannah Circle. Traffic-control measures will be in place as the work occurs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, although, it’s likely crews will be done around 4 p.m. each day. Work is expected to last until the end of June.

During a recent meeting regarding Donovan Smith Manufactured Home Park, some residents of the park aired frustrations that work had not yet begun. Officials seemed to be frustrated as well, but they explained there were valid reasons for delays and the project is still expected to be completed by November 2024.

The notice to proceed was given Feb. 16 for the 630-day project that is expected to be completed no later than Nov. 7, 2024. If the project goes beyond that date, liquidated damages to the tune of $1,500 per day will be assessed.

The fourth progress meeting regarding the pilot program will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 7, at city hall. A link and further information can be found at lewesbpwde.gov. Residents with questions are encouraged to call Hoffman at 302-519-3527.