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State Road 674 sewer project moves forward

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By SHERRI LONON

THE SUN

Published: July 1, 2009

More than 20 residents turned out to hear what Hillsborough County officials had to say about a $4.8 million proposed sewer main along State Road 674. Their concerns centered on how the pipeline would impact the community - both during construction and after it.

"I'm concerned there will be a geyser in the middle of 674," said resident David Brown.

Brown and others were also interested in the likelihood of pipe shifting, if manholes would be present along the line and how much or how little construction would tie up traffic.

Engineers from AECOM, the county's consultant on the project, explained project details to allay fears about sewage spills after construction and traffic snarls during it.

"There's no way for the sewage - short of a break - to get out of this pipe," said Thomas Jones, principal engineer for AECOM.

Brown also questioned officials on the possibility of pipe settling in the ground causing leaks.

Jones said the ground would be heavily compacted before the pipeline went in and that weight from the sewage flow would not allow for further settling.

"This is a force main, it's always full of water," he said.

The project involves the placement of 11,000 feet of 30-inch pipe along the south side of 674 from U.S. Highway 301 to an existing lift station located west of Upper Creek Drive. The pipeline will serve as a force main, which means it will carry a constant flow of effluent. Manholes will not be a part of the project, officials said.

The pipeline will not replace the existing 12-inch main that serves Sun City Center. Instead, it will help create a larger capacity system to accommodate growth in southern Hillsborough County and improve system reliability, county officials said. It will eventually meet up with other segments of pipeline that will lead into the south county water treatment facility.

According to project manager Mark Dillman of Hillsborough County Water Resource Services, residents can expect few inconveniences during the actual construction phase.

"We plan to keep interruptions to a minimum," Dillman said. To do this, the project's pathway was specifically designed to avoid the golf cart paths and to involve construction techniques that would not call for opening up side roads. Rather than cut the road to put the pipe in, the construction will go under main roads, he said. In areas where construction will involve opening the road, Dillman said a way in and a way out will always be available.

The project is expected to reach final design in July and then will go out to bid for construction. The county will hold another public meeting prior to construction, which is slated to start sometime in late 2010. Construction will take an estimated 10 months.

For more information about the project, contact Steve Valdez, community relations coordinator for the county, at (813) 272-5275.

Sherri Lonon can be reached at slonon@mediageneral.com or at (813) 731-1976.

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