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After years of concern from residents and community advocates, the Amarillo City Council has officially approved a $1.28 million construction contract to begin replacing outdated water lines in the North Heights neighborhood. The decision came during the council’s regular Tuesday meeting and marks the launch of the first phase of a long-anticipated infrastructure project aimed at improving water pressure and reliability in the historically underserved area.
The contract, awarded to Turkey Creek HDD, LLC, is funded through the city’s Water & Sewer Fund Revenues and will replace aging 2-inch water lines with modern 6-inch lines. The larger pipes are expected to improve water flow and pressure for homes and businesses in the neighborhood.
A Community-Driven Priority
“This project is the result of a strong partnership between the community, city staff, and the council,” said Jerry Danforth, interim director of Capital Projects and Development for the City of Amarillo. “The community approached us and said they were having issues. We were aware of the issues, and once the council prioritized the funding, we were able to move forward.”
North Heights, one of Amarillo’s oldest neighborhoods, has long struggled with decaying infrastructure. Many of the water lines in the area date back to the 1950s and 1960s, with little to no systemic replacement efforts until now.
A Patchwork Past, A Systematic Future
James Allen, a longtime community advocate for North Heights, has been vocal about the need for comprehensive upgrades.
“The city has always had a plan, but they never acted on it,” Allen said. “We’d see line breaks patched over and over. Water would shoot up in alleys, and they’d fix just that one section. Six months later, it would happen again down the block. That’s reactive, not proactive.”
The current contract changes that. Instead of isolated fixes, entire blocks of water lines will be replaced, providing a more stable and efficient water system for residents.
Addressing Delays and Looking Ahead
According to Danforth, the delay in addressing the issue came down to funding and prioritization.
“It’s always an issue of funding,” he said. “To the council’s credit, they made this a priority, and that allowed us to act. We work at the will of the council.”
The first phase is expected to upgrade about 75% of the two-inch lines in North Heights. After this phase is completed, the city will reassess remaining problem areas and develop plans for subsequent phases, with the goal of presenting those during future budget discussions.
“This isn’t a one-off,” said Allen. “These lines are 60 to 70 years old. What they fix this year, they’ll need to keep addressing next year.”
Construction Timeline and Impact
The project is set to begin in approximately three weeks and will take around five to six months to complete, covering 100 working days. Most of the construction will occur in alleyways, minimizing disruptions to street traffic. Streets will only be affected where crews need to connect to main water lines.
In preparation for the construction, dumpsters in affected alleys will be temporarily relocated to ensure continued trash service.
Though Allen acknowledged the construction phase may cause some inconvenience, he said the long-term benefits are worth it.
“It’s going to be a little inconvenient while they’re working,” he said. “But in the long run, it’s great. This will allow new homes and businesses to tie into infrastructure that’s ready to support them.”
Allen emphasized the importance of visible progress to maintain community trust. “Once people start seeing the trucks and the work happening in their alleys, they’ll know this is real. That’s when momentum builds.”
A Step Toward Long-Term Change
The North Heights water line replacement is more than just an infrastructure upgrade—it's a long-overdue step toward equity for a neighborhood that has waited decades for basic improvements.
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