MIDDLEPORT — The $486,305 project of extending water lines and installing fire hydrants into lower Middleport, specifically the Hobson and Leading Creek areas, is nearing completion.

Middleport Mayor Michael Gerlach said Friday that plans are now being made to celebrate the completion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. on Aug. 31. He said his hope is to have the families who are now connected to the village water system cut the ribbon.

The area where the new water lines and the hydrants were installed included a part of the Hobson section which was annexed into Middleport village a number of years ago. The project also included some of the Leading Creek area which had village water service but needed replacement of the water lines and the installation of fire hydrants.

The new lines in the Hobson area were taken along the river on the left side of the highway traveling south and provides village water service to the eight or nine houses on that side of the road. Fire hydrants were installed every 50 feet in both the Hobson and Leading Creek areas as a part of the project in lower Middleport starting at Powell Street. Gerlach said that everything is now operational in the extended service area.

Contractor on the project which got underway in early June was TAM Construction.

The project was construct with an EPA-DEFA grant of $192.691, and a loan at zero percent interest of $293,613.

Meanwhile, the mayor reports that the $7 million sewer project, being entirely paid for with grant money is “winding down” and that the trench paving is beginning. The anticipated time of completion of the entire project is October.

Meanwhile, details on the new well project are being completed and the work there is about to begin. Eighty-five percent of the cost of drilling the new well will come from grant money, Gerlach said.