TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Betsy Smith and her husband Art have been living with a problem for more than two years on their quiet South Tampa street.
Many of the people who live on San Carlos Street are dealing with the same issue.
Smith said the city sent them a letter in 2008, saying they would soon start a project to improve the water pressure and fire safety in the area.
“2008, we got our first letter from the city, saying they were going to redo the pipes, the water and the sewer lines,” Betsy Smith said.
Then the recession came and the project never started.
“It started again with a letter in there from May of 2023, saying that it was going to be a three-week project,” Betsy Smith said.
That was 104 weeks ago, and the project still isn’t finished. In fact, the contractor doing the work has walked off the job.
San Carlos and other streets in the vicinity have been dug up. There are holes along the roads, with water pipes not yet connected protruding from their yard, and the water pressure in their homes remains low.
“Then they dug up the pavement, they dug up the curbing and drainage,” Betsy Smith said.
Frustrated, she called the city. “And they were like, ‘Oh, well, we’re working on it’,” Betsy Smith said.
In addition to the water pipes that aren’t hooked up, there are two fire hydrants on the street that are not connected.
“The communication between the city and the neighborhood has been zero,” Betsy Smith said.
A city spokesperson issued a statement, saying:
“This project aimed to enhance our water service to this community by replacing almost 6 miles of old pipeline, thereby increasing water pressure, bettering fire protection, and minimizing future water main ruptures. The City hired Young’s Communication to execute the $5.37 million project and authorized them to commence work in late 2021. However, in April, the contractor halted the project due to financial difficulties, causing the City to declare Young’s in default of its agreement with the City.”
Now, no work is being done at all, and the Smiths and their neighbors are angry.
“It’s ridiculous to be put off this long,” Art Smith said.
The statement from the city goes on to say, they are working to resolve the issue:
“City staff have filed a claim against the construction company’s performance bond and are collaborating with its insurance company to employ a new contractor to complete the project without any additional cost to taxpayers.”
However, at this time, a new contractor has not been selected. Holes remain in San Carlos and other streets and there is no set date for when the situation will improve.
