College Avenue water main replacement set to last all year

AVONDALE ESTATES, Ga. — DeKalb County is set to undergo its West College Avenue water main replacement project. Drivers can expect construction to start Feb. 2 and continue over the next 10 months.

Crews will replace about 11,300 linear feet of ductile iron water pipe between South Candler Street and Emeril Drive, according to a DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM) news release.

The DeKalb County Watershed Management will be hosting a virtual meeting for the West College Avenue Water Main Replacement Project on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6:30 p.m. 

To attend the meeting, click here.

This project is part of DeKalb County’s $4.27 billion capital improvement program to improve the capacity and service of the watershed systems.

The water main replacement project was first announced in May 2025 due to the Avondale Estates main water line needing to be replaced along U.S. 278 after a non-functioning lead valve was discovered, an irreplaceable part that requires replacing the entire main water line.

According to an Avondale Estates spokesperson, the county had already aligned its work with the city’s nearly completed Complete Street project and had done that section in the fall of 2025. The county will now work on the other sections of the project. 

The spokesperson also stated that this construction would not affect any of the city’s current projects, as the two entities had previously worked together. The city also anticipates no damage to completed work.

Normal construction hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding major holidays. An increase in construction-related noise and traffic during work hours should be expected.