Chattanooga plans to close a 200-foot section of Cassandra Smith Road this summer for work on an underground wastewater line, part of the first phase of improvements in the $250 million overhaul of the city's wastewater system.
The project calls for the road, a key traffic artery for Big Ridge Elementary School, to be cut over the summer when school is out.
"Timing is very critical," said Justin C. Holland, new administrator of Chattanooga's Public Works department. "It's a very deep pipe and we anticipate having to close that [section] for several weeks."
The work will upgrade the DuPont Pump Station and wastewater basin. On March 15, the council agreed to pay Chase Plumbing & Mechanical Inc. up to $5.7 million for the work.
Several other items related to the wastewater system overhaul are on the City Council's table Tuesday, including proposed funding, new projects and a comprehensive status report.
All are related to the city's 2013 consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the state of Tennessee and the Tennessee Clean Water Network to reduce or, where possible, eliminate sewage overflows and improve overall wastewater operations.
Sewage overflows into the Tennessee River precipitated the federally mandated program.
Key elements of the long-term plan call for replacing and repairing pipes and upgrading the Moccasin Bend wastewater treatment plant.
Councilman Chip Henderson asked the Public Works department for the status report on the wastewater rehabilitation program.
"I would like to know about completed, current and future projects," Henderson said in a recent strategic planning session.
On the same day, the council will consider whether to enter into a $42.5 million loan agreement with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to pay for construction on Chattanooga's interceptor sewer system. The city wants to repair sewer lines to reduce stormwater infiltration, which contributes to sewer overflows, realign flow direction and abandon some sections of line in the project's first phase, Holland said.
The second phase will address rehabilitation of the pump station.
That system comprises about 1,250 miles of sewer lines, 60 pumping stations, 130 residential/grinder stations, eight combined sewer overflow facilities and the Moccasin Bend treatment plant, according to the Chattanooga government website. The city provides wastewater service to 400,000 people living in Chattanooga and several Hamilton County and Northwest George municipalities.
Councilman Ken Smith said he sees the road cuts as one step in replacing some badly worn sections of Cassandra Smith Road. He said he hopes more repairs can be incorporated into the city's transportation department budget in the coming fiscal year.
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com.