By KATHY BOCKUS

ST. STEPHEN – Preparation work for the installation of the new water main along King Street will begin bright and early this Sunday morning, May 11.
That work is necessary to provide a connection for the water main and involves shutting off the water to the area between the Irving convenience store and gas station and Kings Court between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., according to notices distributed by the town.
But three local business operators are holding their breath and hoping the work finishes earlier because Sunday is Mother’s Day.
“It’s our busiest day of the year,” said Harold Planetta, manager of the KFC restaurant on King Street.
“Public health won’t let us open without water,” he said.
Planetta said he had a meeting with the project engineers, as did other area businesses, two weeks ago about the planned work.
“But I never expected them to do it on Sunday, especially this Sunday,” said Planetta.
Dan Shaw, manager of the Atlantic Superstore, said he had talked with the project engineers and had been assured the work on Sunday would be completed by noon, not 3 p.m. as stated in the notice.
“So I’m 99.9 per cent sure we’ll be open as usual,” said Shaw.
The Superstore normally opens at noon on Sundays.
Shaw said not having water Sunday morning means the store workers will have to work Saturday night to do the preparation work they usually do on Sunday morning.
Considering it is Mother’s Day, Shaw said chicken meals as well as flowers and cards sold by the store might be impacted if Sunday’s work continues longer than expected.
Sue Hossack, a spokesperson for Carman’s Diner, said the restaurant would be open that day despite the lack of water in the morning.
“We’re busy on Sundays anyways, but on Mother’s Day it will be busier that usual,” said Hossack.
“We’ll still be open. We’ll just fill buckets and do dishes by hand as long as we can.”
Engineer Grant Godfrey said the businesses in the area might have to operate for an hour or two without water Sunday.
“It was determined to be the day to have the least impact after our review with business owners on the street,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone would be picking up a Mother’s Day gift after noon on Sunday.”
The first phase of the $1.8 million water main project is expected to continue from Monday, May 12, to the end of June and involves installing a large diameter water main and new service laterals on King Street, from Chocolate Drive to the railway tracks by the Border Arena.
The normal hours of operation for that work will be Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Any customers who will be affected by a planned shut down will be notified at least three days in advance. King Street will be reduced to one lane of traffic while the work is underway.
Work will be suspended for the summer months and begin again in September, continuing down King Street to Milltown Boulevard. That portion of the work is expected to be completed in November.