SALISBURY — Water lines that will run along Long Ferry, Leonard, Dukeville and Stoner Morgan roads will be installed beginning Jan. 15.

In a letter that will be sent to residents of the affected areas this weekend, Rowan County Manager Aaron Church wrote that the county expects construction will be complete by Oct. 1.

“However, the expected completion date does not reflect delays due to weather or other acts beyond control of Rowan County, its contractors or agents,” Church wrote.

Church said in an interview that the construction and installation of the water lines — which will serve about 150 homes — will cost about $2.4 million.

The county has been planning the expansion of water lines into the area — including Dukeville — for several years. In the months after the county decided on that expansion, questions arose about the safety of water being supplied to Dukeville.

Dukeville is near a number of Duke Energy coal ash ponds.

Because of questions about the water supply, Duke Energy is being required by the state to provide permanent, safe drinking water to neighbors of its coal ash ponds.

Duke Energy gave the Dukeville neighbors the choice of a filtration system or a water line. Church said most of them chose a water line.

Since the county had already planned to install a water line near the coal ash neighbors’ homes, Duke Energy agreed to pay about 90 percent of the approximately $2.4 million cost.

Church said the water line expansion was originally planned as a way to stimulate economic development in the area, which has land available near Interstate 85.

Church said residents who live or commutie through the area should not expect much change during construction.

“There may be days when there’s more traffic than normal, where vehicles might have to go slower,” Church said. “… But it should go fairly smoothly.”

The county hired McGill Associates as its general contractor and engineer.

Church said other nearby residents may also be able to hook onto the new water line. Anyone who is interested should call Project Engineer Doug Chapman at 828-328-2024 or Church at 704-216-8180.

Contact reporter Jessica Coates at 704-797-4222.