Work will begin next month on the first phase of a five-year project to replace the 5,000-foot water main located on Ridge Road S.W. and S.W. 184th Street.

Jeff Lakin, manager of King County Water District 19, said that the 4-inch steel water main is undersized and corroded.

“The pipe is corroded to where it leaks on occasion. … During the summertime when there’s enough demand on the system, the water main is undersized to cary the demand of water,” Lakin said.

He added that replacing the main with a larger pipe would allow it to support fire hydrants in that area.

Phase one, which will involve replacing 750 feet of pipe on S.W. 184th Street from Beall Road S.W. to 8812 S.W. 184th Street, will begin in March and last about two weeks.

Lakin said traffic disruption from the work will be minimal.

“A few days they’ll have to close one lane and use flaggers,” he said.

The project was authorized one year ago by District 19’s board of commissioners. The total cost of the project has been estimated at about $700,000, Lakin said.