Mention the phrase “sanitary sewer,” and you may not think of an important aspect of a city’s infrastructure. However, Emporia civic leaders have had the downtown sewer network in mind for some time and are nearing the final stages of planning before major underground work starts next year.
A public hearing Tuesday night detailed the need for the project and the scope of upcoming repairs. Before the meeting, City Engineer Jim Ubert detailed the different aspects of the project on KVOE’s Newsmaker 2 segment. He says this will be similar to the Insituform project in other areas of town the last few years, although there will be more involved.
This will be a lengthy project — around 15 months, once construction starts. Assistant City Manager Lane Massey says the sewer network is just as important to a city’s infrastructure system as is the water line network. He also said the city is doing its best to minimize the potential impact on businesses, customers and residents once the work begins.
Ubert says most of the work will take place in alleys as opposed to city streets as part of that approach. However, there will be some impact to businesses that have alley deliveries and residents that use alleys to get home. There could also be parking adjustments, and there will likely be short-term water cutoffs as the pipe linings are installed.
Planning for the work ahead has been going on just about all year. Construction could start by April, Ubert says, which puts the end around summer 2020.
