Hearings set for Wednesday, Sept. 5 at Madison’s City-County Building
MADISON, Wis. – Two sanitary sewer lining projects – one on the west side along Lake Mendota Drive and one on the east side near Stoughton Road – will be the subject of public hearings Sept. 5 starting at 5 p.m. in room 108 of the City-County Building to discuss noise variances for the projects.
In both cases, the capacity of the existing sanitary lines is sufficient, so major reconstruction is not needed. However, the Lake Mendota Drive pipe is 87 years old and the Stoughton Road pipe is 54 years old, and both require rehabilitation.
Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District intends to address corrosion inside these pipes by inserting linings. The linings improve flows, prevent infiltration of groundwater into the pipe and extend the life of the existing pipe. Two different processes will be used and will generate less disruption than major reconstruction. However, some noise will result due to the use of bypass pumps and other equipment. The public hearings will focus on a noise variance needed for the equipment to operate intermittently between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
“We anticipate these projects will each take about a month to complete, with the projects getting underway sometime between October 2018 and May 2019,” said Bruce Borelli, director of engineering for Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. “We’re interested in hearing from community members about any concerns they may have regarding the noise variance. As with any infrastructure rehabilitation project, there will be some disturbance but far less than with a rebuild.”
The Lake Mendota Drive project will extend from Baker Avenue to Spring Harbor Park. The pipe lining will be inserted in segments through manholes with each segment requiring two to three days to complete. The project is formally known as the West Interceptor Rehabilitation – Gammon Extension to Pumping Station 5.
Although the installation does not require excavation, residents can expect to see refrigeration trucks, boilers, pumps and generators. The boilers provide steam to harden or cure the lining in place and refrigeration trucks are needed to keep the lining cool during storage to prevent premature curing.
While the new pipe is installed and cured, wastewater from the existing pipe will be bypassed through hoses running down the center of the street. Each new segment may take 16 to 20 hours to complete, during which time the bypass pumps will run continuously. Once each segment is done, the equipment will be moved down the street to the next section.
The Stoughton Road project will run between Buckeye and Cottage Grove roads and will use a slightly different technology involving a fitted pipe liner. The existing sanitary pipe in this area runs within the railroad corridor so the work is expected to draw less attention. The project is formally known as the Pumping Station 10 Force Main Rehabilitation.
Borelli said the projects reflect the District’s efforts to maintain aging infrastructure in a way that protects public health and the environment while delivering reliable services at an acceptable cost. Public engagement with District projects is important to identify concerns as well as opportunities to improve results for area residents.
