Update: Work begins the week of August 17. 0.5 miles of Rice Creek Trail will close.
Sewer rehabilitation work by the Metropolitan Council Environmental Service (MCES) will continue through Oct 2016. Updates posted on MCES website: latest update 8/10/15.
Read the most recent MCES update here.
Work Area: The work will take place parallel to the railroad tracks that are west of University Ave, from 73rd Ave NE on the north end to Mississippi St NE on the south end, passing through the western edges of Fridley Community Park and Plaza Park. The work will be done in several stages between August 2015 and September 2016. Some overnight work may occur with this project.
Why Does the Sewer Need to be Rehabilitated?
The majority of the concrete sewer is approximately 50 years old and is showing signs of corrosion and cracking. Repairs will extend the sewer life for several more decades, and prevent groundwater and stormwater from leaking into the sewer.
How Will the Work Be Done?MCES’s contractor, Lametti & Sons, Inc., will start by installing temporary aboveground wastewater pumps and pipes along the railroad tracks and on the Rice Creek West Trail, to maintain sewer service during rehabilitation of the existing sewer. The existing pipe will then be cleaned and repaired using cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) trenchless technology. This involves inserting a liner into the existing manholes and sewer, and forming a new sewer pipe within the existing pipe. The old, damaged pipe is not removed, so the majority of the digging is confined to manhole locations. Disturbed paved areas and landscape will be restored. The CIPP technology is a very cost-effective, efficient and widely used way of repairing damaged sewers.
Temporary Sewer Pipe and Construction Zone Caution:
MCES reminds the public that the temporary wastewater pipes are active pressurized sewers that discharge to a downstream regional sanitary sewer. This area and the rest of the work zone will be delineated with construction fence. TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY, WE ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM SEWER REPAIR AREAS AND EQUIPMENT. IF YOU NOTICE ANY VANDALISM TO PIPES OR CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT, PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE POLICE.
How Will the Work Affect Property Owners?The most noticeable impact will be detouring Rice Creek West Trail from the entrance to Community Park off of University Avenue and over to Mississippi Street NE. Portions of the berm in Community Park may be leveled for equipment access and staging (all affected areas will be restored to existing conditions at the conclusion of the project). There also will be periodic restriction of traffic on 69th Avenue NE. Other impacts may include contractor equipment parking; extended work hours, including 24-hour operations during portions of the project; and lights, dust and some noise from pumps, generators and other construction equipment. There also may be odors from the repair work. MCES and its contractor will work to minimize these odors.
Who Pays for the Work?
The cost of this project is not assessed to adjacent property owners. It is spread out among all MCES sewer customers in the metro area (paying sewer charges through their city's local sewer utility billing).
For More Information:Additional information about the Fridley Area Regional Sewer Improvements Project will be posted and updated on the MCES website. Click on the link below.
MCES staff are available to review this project with you and answer your questions in person or by phone or email. If you are unable to attend the open house or if you have additional questions, please contact:
• Tim O’Donnell, project citizens liaison, at 651-602-1269 or tim.odonnell@metc.state.mn.us