Crews replace service lines to 3 homes - WNEM TV 5

The city of Flint is moving forward with plans to replace lead-tainted pipelines. 

The next phase of the FAST Start program began on Wednesday with crews replacing service lines to three homes located on the 1700 block of Arizona Avenue and the 1200 block of Durand Street.

The work was done by crews from W.T. Stevens Construction Inc. and Johnson & Wood.

"We are excited that crews will be out working once again to help get the lead out of Flint and restore safe clean drinking water to residents," Mayor Karen Weaver said. "From this point on we hope to have crews out almost daily in [an] effort to replace 200-250 lead-tainted service lines over the next month."

The money for this phase of the program is being paid for with $2 million from the state, according to the city of Flint.

The city said the state has appropriated $25 million, which will be used to replace about 5,000 lead pipes.

Crews busted into the ground at Janet Hensley's home to tear out the lead lines and replace those pipes with safer ones.

"It's a good start for progress," Hensley said.

She said she will feel much better when the pipes at her local schools are replaced.

Weaver stopped by Hensley's home to see the progress.

"I am so happy because we've been waiting for this for such a long time. It's long overdue and everybody's ready. Everybody's ready and the bottom line is we always knew our goal was to put in new infrastructure, get rid of these lead service lines because people deserve clean water," Weaver said.

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