Carriage Hills and Spruce Knob Water System Improvements
About This Project
Updated August 20, 2025
The first phase of the Carriage Hills and Spruce Knob Water Systems Improvement Project is starting in August 2025 and is being done by a team lead by Timberwolf Excavating (TWX). TWX will be exploring the geotechnical conditions, locating existing utilities, and preparing to install pipe starting on August 11, 2025, with active construction expected to start on or after August 18, 2025.
Phase 1 includes replacing older water pipes along Carriage Drive from Highway 7 to Ramshorn and along Whispering Pines from Ponderosa to approximately Pine Meadow Drive, reconnecting the existing services, and installing new (and more) fire hydrants. The Town needs to complete this project because the older existing water mains are not buried deep enough to protect them from freezing and they are subject to leaking and breaking. The project will also connect the water system in Carriage Hills to other sections of the Town's water system at Pawnee and Grey Fox. These connections will improve the overall operation of the system. A new pressure regulating station will be installed near the playground at the park.
Construction will take about a year to complete. The tentative schedule is provided below, but is subject to change depending on field conditions and contract terms.
There will be traffic impacts during construction, which will typically occur Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The first area of impact is from Highway 7 to Lakeshore then further down Carriage Drive to Spruce Avenue. During times of active construction, portions of the street will be closed and traffic will be detoured onto adjacent roads. This portion of the work is expected to take 5 to 8 weeks to complete. Once completed, the road will be patched with asphalt and fully reopened to traffic and the second segment (on Carriage Drive from Spruce Avenue to south of Whispering Pines) will be constructed.
Please note that road closures will move with construction, impacting Carriage Drive and Whispering Pines. Periodically check this website for updates on new planned road closures and detours.
For more information about this project please contact Jacqui Wesley, Utilities Capital Project Manager, at jwesley@estes.org or Mike Dantimo, Capital Projects Supervisor, at mdantimo@estes.org and watch for updates on this project's page.
Project Morning Information Sessions with the Water Division
We invite you to attend our monthly morning information sessions to learn more about the project, ask questions, and share your concerns. Our team will be available to discuss construction plans, address specific issues, and provide detailed information about the project timeline.
Location: Water Shop at 1360 Brook Drive
Dates and Time: September 3 and October 1, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. (any time during these hours)
Project Information and Updates
October 15, 2024 public meeting presentation.
The design for improvements in the Carriage Hills area is nearing completion with a tentative advertisement for bids planned in Spring 2025 and construction in 2025 and 2026. Phase 1 of this important project includes replacing older water pipes along Carriage Drive and Whispering Pines and installing new fire hydrants. The older lines are not buried deep enough to protect them from freezing and they are subject to leaking and breaking. The project will also connect the water system in Carriage Hills to other sections of the Town's water system at Pawnee and Grey Fox. These connections will improve the overall operation of the system. Improvements to the former Spruce Knob Water System (Joel Estes Drive) have been combined with the Carriage Hills project and were submitted for grant and loan consideration by the State.
The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has awarded the Town a $1M grant for the Carriage Hills and Spruce Knob improvements project. The Town has also been awarded $1.5M in principle loan forgiveness through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL) as administered by the State. The remaining cost of the Carriage Hills portion of the project will be funded through a low-interest rate (3.25%) loan package as part of the State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan program. The funding approach is being finalized for Town Board consideration.
The engineers for both portions of the project have finalized the opinion of probable construction cost, resulting in a total estimated cost that exceeds our current budget. The base bid is the minimum project we will construct (shown in green on the updated map). If the costs for the base bid are lower than expected, the Town can supplement with additional areas (shown in orange on the updated map).
On May 7, 2024 a public meeting was held at Town Hall for the Carriage Hills and Spruce Knob Water System Improvements project. A pdf of the meeting presentation is available. An invitation for another Carriage Hills focused project meeting on October, 15 2024 will be forwarded to the HOA president. A third meeting is anticipated prior to the start of construction (Spring 2025).
The project was advertised for bid on March 21, 2025 and bid opening is scheduled for early April. Construction along Joel Estes Drive has been added to the project and we anticipate construction on Joel Estes Drive will start soon after the contract is awarded. We anticipate awarding the contract in May.