City to replace aging infrastructure starting in 2023

Branson residents and community members will see less water main breaks as the City begins to systematically replace aging water mains and service lines, beginning with the Hiawatha Heights subdivision which will start in 2023 and should be complete by late 2024.

These projects will replace existing water mains with a larger size which will supply more volume for better fire protection and will extend the longevity of the system.

“This isn’t a new challenge to communities across the country. It’s a massive undertaking and something we’ve been planning for and working on for some time now,” said Utilities Director, Kendall Powell. “I’m excited that we are at the stage where our residents will be able to start seeing some improvements. We will also coordinate with our Public Works team so any necessary road repairs/paving will cause less disruption to residents. We will do our best to limit the negative impacts but do ask for patience,” Powell said.

The City of Branson’s Utilities Department took the number of water main leaks and compared that to the total footage of water main within each subdivision along with other variables to come up with high-priority areas. Besides Hiawatha Heights, the City has plans to do this work throughout the City, including the following areas:

- Lakeview Terrace/Eiserman and Parnell area

- Lucia Ridge

- Murphy Addition

- Gateway

- Downtown

- W. Branson Heights

- Branson North

- Cantwell

The first phase of the project (Hiawatha Heights) is expected to cost $10 million over the next two years and will be paid for with the Tourism Tax revenue, a tax residents passed in 1997 to improve and maintain infrastructure and to market Branson’s tourism economy. The City will also use federal grant funding when available.