OWASA Water Main Project Nears Halfway Mark, Brings New Traffic Alert
Published on July 02, 2026
July 14, 2026 Update: Due to last weekend's weather, this work will continue through this weekend.
Orange Water and Sewer Authority’s (OWASA) work to replace an aging water main on W. Rosemary Street is moving along as planned and it’s bringing a new traffic alert starting July 8. While most work has been happening on weekdays, the upcoming work will extend into the weekend.
“We’re approaching the halfway mark of this project,” said OWASA Project Manager Darren Berger. “So far, we’ve spent much of our time on the west end of the street. Soon, we’ll spend several days working at Rosemary Street and N. Columbia Street. We appreciate everyone’s continued patience as we work toward this historic improvement to the sustainability and reliability of the downtown community’s water infrastructure.”
What to expect July 8–13
Crews will begin working in the intersection of Rosemary St. and N. Columbia St. on Wednesday, July 8, and expect to wrap up Monday morning, July 13.
At times during this period:
- N. Columbia Street will be down to one northbound lane and one southbound lane so community members should expect slowdowns.
- Rosemary St. near its intersection with N. Columbia Street will be closed to thru traffic.
- It may not be possible to turn from N. Columbia Street onto Rosemary Street in either direction.
West Rosemary Street will remain accessible from Church Street, and East Rosemary Street will remain accessible from Henderson Street.
OWASA and the Town are asking everyone to give themselves extra time to get where they’re going and to slow down for their safety and the safety of crews working in the area.
What to expect in the month ahead
In the coming month, community members will continue to see work happening in different areas along W. Rosemary Street. This work includes water service connections and asphalt restoration. Maps and descriptions of the project phases can be found at owasa.org/rosemary.
“We continue to encourage folks to support local businesses who are affected by construction. They are still open, easy to get to, and need everyone’s support,” said the Town’s Business Vitality Manager, Sarah Potter. “West Rosemary Street is open to local traffic; you just have to be mindful of where construction crews are working each day.”
Staying Informed
OWASA and the Town are working together to share information that’ll help community members plan ahead. There are several ways to stay connected: