CRESTVIEW — The city's newest landmark is taking shape on Old Bethel Road as contractors complete the basic structure of a tank that will store water from a new well.
Since mid-March, Speegle Construction crews have been working on the well next to Old Bethel Cemetery and constructing the tank. Simultaneously, another crew from Evans Contracting has buried a 10-inch diameter PVC water main south of the well along the winding countryside road.
The whole project is budgeted at $2.04 million.
"They are essentially done," city engineer Fred Cook said. "They just have to pressure-test the line and do a bacteriological test."
City planning officials forecast the city's next wave of growth will occur in the area. New housing developments have sprung up along Old Bethel Road in the last year.
The new pipeline includes several fire hydrants. The Crestview Fire Department hopes to construct a new firehouse on Old Bethel Road to serve the expected growth and existing neighborhoods.
Public Works officials said the new well and pipeline will link Crestview's water distribution lines currently serving as far south as Antioch Road’s western portion.
Although recent thunderstorms have set construction of the tank back about two weeks, the project should be completed by the end of January 2014 as scheduled, city engineer Fred Cook said.
"It's the well and the well house that will take the rest of the time," Cook said, adding well drilling should begin July 22.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: New water well and tank progressing on Old Bethel Road in Crestview