The second phase of a three-part, multimillion-dollar project improving water service reliability along the North Academy Boulevard corridor will start next month.

Residents are invited to attend an open house hosted by Colorado Springs Utilities from 5:30-7 p.m. on March 21 to learn more about the project, its expected traffic impacts and water disruption, and other information from experts and display booth stations.

It will be held at the COS City Hub, 4304 Austin Bluffs Parkway.

The city-owned utility began work on the $6.7 million project a year ago, last April. Crews are replacing several water valves on large pipelines at various intersections along North Academy Boulevard to “mitigate unplanned service outages in the future,” according to a news release from the city-owned utility. For example, there was a large water main break in this area, at North Academy and Maizeland Road, in March 2021.

The new valves will allow utilities officials to better control the water system in an emergency, they previously said. They will be able to shut off smaller sections of the water main during a break to make repairs.