Milton officials have begun discussing plans for a new water main that would run from Atlantic Street to Sam Lucas Road.

Town Manager Kristy Rogers said the upgrades are in the preliminary planning phase, but the general idea is to replace the existing main along Atlantic Street and then build a new main from the intersection of Front Street to Sam Lucas Road.

At a May 1 meeting of the town’s water committee, Public Works Supervisor Greg Wingo unveiled six proposals for the project, but focused on three in particular.

The first project, which Wingo said was estimated by town engineer Pennoni Associates to cost $927,000, would replace the existing main starting on Atlantic Street to the intersection of Front Street and Cave Neck Road The project would replace the existing 4-inch main with an 8-inch main. Wingo said this project would need to be done regardless, as that area will be the site of the planned Cannery Village IV. He said a 4-inch main would not be able to adequately supply water to the development.

From there, the town could go in two directions.

Wingo said the town could build a new main from Front Street to Sam Lucas Road before going halfway down Sam Lucas Road and cutting through and looping into Heritage Creek. The proposal, estimated at $4.3 million, would utilize a 12-inch water main and would require an easement through privately owned land to work.

Another, but more expensive, proposal, would go from Front Street to Sam Lucas Road, go all the way down Sam Lucas Road and meet up with the existing system at the intersection of Harbeson Road and Heritage Boulevard. This would, in effect, loop the entire system together, Wingo said.

“These estimates are higher than what the job will probably cost,” Wingo said.

At this point, there is no timetable on the work, as the town does not have funding lined up. The purpose of discussions at this point is to weed out details of the project so the committee can send a recommendation to town council.

This would be the fourth major water infrastructure project the town has taken on since early last year. The town is about to begin construction on a $425,000 water main extension into Wagamon’s West Shores, and construction design is being completed on water main improvements in the area of Atlantic Avenue and Chestnut Street. On April 1, town council approved a $169,000 bid by Bridgeville contractor A.C. Schultes to drill a new well in Shipbuilder’s Village, and a new water treatment facility there is soon to be put out for bid.