NEWBURG — Twelve years after talks began to extend a water line from Newburg to the former Independence School, construction has begun.
Newburg has worked toward providing water to the neighboring unincorporated community of Independence since 2008.
Newburg Mayor Edgar Fortney said materials to begin the project have been brought in.
When completed, the project will provide water to about 22 homes. This is less than half the 70 customers who requested service.
Fortney said the town still hopes to serve the others later.
At town council meetings, Sheena Hunt, executive director of the Region VI Planning and Development Council, said the town will use Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program (AML) grant money to begin the project.
Once the AML project gets underway, the town is considering applying for U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service funds to provide water to the remaining customers.
Hunt said A.J. Burke Construction (formerly Mountaineer Welding & Construction) of Horner is the contractor. Vaughn, Coast & Vaughn Inc. is the engineer on the project.
Hunt said the project is scheduled to be completed within six months.
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