A planned water main improvement project that will impact access to one of Edgewater’s busiest traffic arteries for roughly four to six weeks is slated to begin on or around March 14.

According to Dan Luna, chief of staff for 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman, the work will take place on Victoria Street between Clark and Ridge. It will involve three scheduled water interruptions, and the street will be closed during work hours for safety concerns.

Restoration will follow the completion of the work and will include landscaping and resurfacing. Street resurfacing takes about three weeks from start to finish, weather permitting, Luna said.

The project is paid for through the 48th Ward’s menu allocation, he added.

According to the Edgewater Glen Daily, the March 14 project is one of a total of five water main improvement projects planned in Edgewater in 2016.

Others include: Ridge Avenue, from Clark to Broadway; Wayne Avenue, from Early to Bryn Mawr; Hollywood Avenue, from Glenwood to Wayne; and Olive Avenue, from Clark to Glenwood.

Luna said Osterman will host a meeting for each of the other four water main improvement projects when they are ready to begin.

Also on tap for this year in Edgewater are three residential street resurfacing projects, one main arterial street resurfacing project, five alley apron improvements, and improvements at Senn Park.

The residential street resurfacing projects will take place on Magnolia Avenue, from Balmoral to Foster; Thome Avenue, from Clark to Greenview; and Highland Avenue, from Clark to Greenview.

The alley apron improvements are planned for 1211 W. Granville Ave., 1215 W. Rosedale Ave., 1456 W. Highland Ave., 1450 W. Victoria St., and 1533 W. Thorndale Ave.

These improvements will help reduce flooding in adjacent properties and prevent the need for additional sewer infrastructure, the Edgewater Glen Daily said.

More information on the main arterial street resurfacing project was not immediately available.

The Edgewater projects are part of a 10-year capital program the city’s Department of Water Management launched in 2012 to renew Chicago’s water infrastructure.

According to the City of Chicago’s 2016 Budget Overview, Chicago’s water and sewer system pipes are an average of about 85 years old. More than 2,500 miles of the system have been in place for 100 years, at least.

The project targets 880 miles of aging water mains for replacement, more than 250 miles of sewer mains for replacement and 490 miles of sewer mains for lining. The city aims to help conserve Lake Michigan’s water and protect water quality, decrease basement flooding risks by enlarging sewer mains, and reduce disruptions to the public from unplanned water and sewer main repairs.

This year, the Department of Water Management will continue to upgrade the water system by replacing and installing 90 miles of new water mains and 22 miles of new sewer mains. It will also line 53 miles of old sewers to extend their working life, the city’s budget overview said.