Mercer Island has myriad water system improvement projects that are in full swing, according to City Manager Jessi Bon.

During her report at the March 4 city council meeting, she delved into a project that will replace more than 6,000 linear feet of undersized and aging cast iron water mains along 86th Avenue Southeast and 84th Avenue Southeast. Water mains are often problematic for the city, she added.

City contractor Kar-Vel Construction Inc. of Renton will handle the project and make accompanying improvements to the stormwater infrastructure. Kar-Vel and city staff held a pre-construction meeting on Feb. 14 and the contractor planned to commence work the week of March 10.

In mid-January, the city sent letters to the affected residents to apprise them of the project.

Also in the city’s water sphere, supply line survey work is underway on one portion of the Long-Term Water Infrastructure Improvement Project.

As the city begins the initial design stages for constructing a new water supply line to the Island, residents will witness survey crews working — through about mid-April — along Southeast Gallagher Hill Road, Southeast 40th Street near Southeast Gallagher Hill Road, Southeast 36th Street, the intersection of Southeast 36th Street and East Mercer Way and the Mercer Island Boat Launch Access Road.

The survey work should have minimal impact to traffic, the city said.

According to the project overview page on the city’s website, Mercer Island “is considering replacing and moving Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) main water transmission line to improve resiliency of the water supply to Mercer Island.” This project stems from an SPU water main leak, conservation and repair in April 2024.