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Collier drivers can expect an easier commute on CR 951 by mid-April.

That’s when a huge water main installation project, currently under way along Collier Boulevard, is slated for completion.

The Board of County Commissioners received an update from Oklahoma-based Akerman Construction on the project during the board’s Feb. 12 meeting.

The presentation made by Collier Public Utilities senior project manager Ron Dillard and Akerman Construction project manager Jeremy Klein.

“As of Feb. 1 construction was 93 percent complete,” said Akerman construction representative Jeremy Klein, at the Feb. 12 meeting. “Final completion is scheduled for April 15, 2008.”

Documents show that as of Feb. 12, the project was undergoing filling and the testing of the main line was in progress.

Construction of interconnections to existing mains would follow.

The $21.4 million project, a 36-inch water main from Davis Boulevard to Rattlesnake Hammock Road and a 30-inch water main from Rattlesnake Hammock Road to U.S. 41, was originally slated for completion in November.

However, due to unforeseen circumstances the project’s completion got pushed, said Dillard after the meeting.

Delays included the Verona Walk development asking to have the pipe put in the easement, which had not been in the original project’s plans.

However, Dillard said the development did not hand over the easement in time for the project to remain on schedule.

“They failed to do that,” Dillard said, during the presentation. “So we had to go back to the original design.”

Another hitch occurred in the north end of the project, when utility lines were discovered where none were supposed to be located.

“After our survey was done, there were several utility lines installed in that area,” Dillard said. “We had to relocate from the left side of the road to the median.”

After the delay explanation, Commissioner Fred Coyle asked how the project was able to remain within budget.

“How was that accomplished,” said Coyle.

Dillard said, that in spite of the actual increase in the contract amount of $270,000, the budget had a 10 percent contingency cushion in place to cover unexpected costs.