Ann Arbor officials are hoping to address problems with sewage backups in a neighborhood off Washtenaw Avenue as part of an upcoming street resurfacing project.

The City Council approved a $437,561 construction contract with Pamar Enterprises Inc. for the work on Wayne Street, a small stretch of road from Washtenaw Avenue to Day Street.

Homayoon Pirooz, head of the city's project management unit, said there is a history of sanitary sewer backups at several residential properties and the First Church of Christ Science where the properties are served by sanitary sewer leads crossing neighboring properties.

"Some of the properties are not directly connected to the sewer lines, so they go through the neighbor's yard to get to the sewer line," he said. "So what we're doing as part of this project is we're building new sewer lines right in front of those properties."

Pirooz said the current "cross lot" arrangement has contributed to sewage backups in the past, but he said it hasn't been a serious ongoing problem.

In addition to there being no sanitary sewer main on Wayne Street, the water main extends along only one block of the street. The proposed construction project will complete the water main loop on Wayne Street from Washtenaw Avenue to Day Street.

It also will include installation of the missing sanitary sewer mains from Washtenaw Avenue to Lorraine Place, and about 100 feet of sanitary sewer main south of Day Street.

Pirooz said the street pavement is in poor condition. The street resurfacing work as part of the project will include some curb and gutter replacement and construction of new corner ramps.

The project is scheduled to begin in May and be completed in July.

Competitive bids were received by the city in March and Pamar Enterprises Inc. of New Haven was determined to be the lowest responsible bidder at $437,561.

City Administrator Steve Powers is authorized to approve additional change orders to the construction contract not to exceed a contingency amount of $45,000.

Pirooz said the city held a public meeting in January at Tappan Middle School and residents were supportive of the project.

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Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.