Difficulty navigating streets and roads due to major infrastructure replacement projects is not a situation unique to what Altoona currently is experiencing.

That is true even though the Mountain City is more compact than some other cities of comparable size in Pennsylvania and beyond the Keystone State’s borders — some of those cities engaged in their own efforts at ridding themselves of deteriorated remnants of the past.

Like what is happening here, it is not uncommon to hear stories about motorists and non-motorists elsewhere who are frustrated and angry about what is going on around them in the spirit of modernization — projects seemingly without any end in sight.

And, this being June, it is a time well into the annual construction season when projects — new and continuing — already have ramped up so as to get done as much as possible before late fall, when projects’ wind-down traditionally begins.

This year so far has imposed many unusual challenges because of the persistence of “uncooperative” weather.

Some smaller-scale projects that should have been completed weeks ago, such as the road work on Route 220 in southern Bedford County, have dragged on and on, especially because of persistent rainy conditions.

It is safe to conclude that construction companies and other contractors in this region of Pennsylvania are hoping that the worst of the bad weather is over and that consecutive days of pleasant weather will be forthcoming.

But back to what has happened and what continues to happen in Altoona as a result of what have been described as major, multi-year infrastructure replacement projects underway by the Altoona Water Authority and Peoples Natural Gas Co.

The gas company is replacing old cast iron and bare steel piping with plastic pipes in a project approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, according to the company’s website.

As noted in an article in the Mirror’s May 28 edition, the old pipes tend to leak methane, which it is said contributes to global warming. Also, the old pipes reportedly are more vulnerable to damage from freezing and thawing, whereas plastic pipes are more flexible and non-corroding.

Meanwhile, one of the most important aims of the water authority project is compliance with the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule, which will require excavations in streets to determine where there are flexible lead “goosenecks” connecting water mains with utility-owned service lines made of galvanized steel.

Additionally, the water authority will be targeting efforts toward eliminating infiltration of groundwater into sewer lines — infiltration being a horror that still afflicts many, if not most, water authorities and water companies. It is difficult, if not impossible, to ensure that any water agency in this region or across Pennsylvania is free of all infiltration.

According to the May 28 Mirror article, broadband companies also have been excavating on city streets, adding to the overall difficulties motorists and other individuals are encountering here.

The bottom line is that many people are not happy with the scope, pace and conditions of the work underway and have not been reluctant to express their opinions.

“We’re getting a boatload of complaints,” said Councilman Dave Ellis.

That means that the city needs to join forces with the entities performing the work to try to minimize the inconveniences with which people must deal, whether with signs, alternate-route recommendations or general advisories as to where most work is being centered on a given day.