West University Place City Council approved a $244,525 construction design contract for the Milton Waterline with IDS Engineering Group at a May 23 meeting.

Plans for the project include replacing existing cast iron water lines with approximately 4,650 linear feet of new polyvinyl chloride—or PVC—water lines along Milton Street; Goode Street; Amherst Street; Edloe Street; and Rice Boulevard, around West University Elementary School.

Much of the existing cast iron lines, which were first installed prior to 1939, will be filled in and abandoned, according to an IDS overview provided to the city.

The design process is expected to last 6.5 months as engineering services will begin a topographical survey of the area.

The city has budgeted an additional $1.42 million for construction planned to begin in 2023.