Work continues toward anticipated end of October completion on 1st Street/1st Avenue NW storm sewer project after some underground and weather delays
Weather delays stop the work but keep the water flowing ... Rainfalls measuring three inches in some areas of Waukon both Friday-Saturday, September 22-23 and again Tuesday, September 26 caused some additional delays in work progressing on the 1st Street/1st Avenue NW storm sewer replacement project in Waukon. Following the Tuesday afternoon, September 26 rain, the photo above shows more than a foot of water flowing from the open end of the existing storm sewer in the middle of 1st Avenue NW into the open trench that was, at that time, awaiting the placement of sections of new precast concrete storm sewer. The flowing water, however, found its way into the newly laid storm sewer (pictured below) that was already in place just a few feet further east on 1st Avenue NW, serving somewhat of its intended purpose, with the overall project anticipated to be completed by the end of October. Standard photos by Joe Moses.
Piecing it all together ... The precast concrete sections of the new storm sewer in the 1st Street/1st Avenue NW area in Waukon were put in place by crane, as pictured in the photo above. Once in place and connected, the sections were then further bolted together and had their seams wrapped to create a new pathway for storm water that will go around the former McMillan 66 property on the southwest corner of that 1st Street/1st Avenue NW intersection, instead of flowing underneath it. Evident in the photos below, final connections are waiting to be made to the new stretch of storm sewer at its receiving end (top photo below) and around the intersection corner (second photo below) at its discharge end (bottom photo below). Standard photos by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
Work continues in Waukon relating to the 1st Street NW/1st Avenue NW Storm Sewer Improvements project near downtown businesses Side Street Cycles, McMillan Muffler, The Copy Shoppe and Kurth Plumbing and Heating, among others. Delays associated with some unanticipated underground discoveries and some heavier rainfall prevented the original intended project from moving forward for more than a week’s time through the third week in September and the first part of the final week of that month.
The Standard reached out to Engineer Sam Ertl of Fehr Graham Engineering, the City of Waukon’s engineering firm, for an update relating to the storm sewer replacement project. In a response received Thursday, September 28, Ertl advised, “The next portion of the box culvert sections along 1st Avenue NW are scheduled to be set Friday, September 29 (which they were - see accompanying photos). The project has encountered some delays in completion due to efforts to find the existing water main along 1st Avenue NW, determination that a new main will need to be installed to ensure proper water and sanitary sewer service for the area, and exposure of an underground storage tank which was not documented.”
Ertl further explained, “The City is taking the necessary steps to ensure proper disposal of said underground tank and to ensure that the other public infrastructure is in good condition upon completion of the work. Prior to setting the last box culvert sections and connecting the new box culvert to the existing one, the sanitary sewer main and water main was to be replaced along 1st Avenue NW from the west side of the box culvert east to the intersection of 1st Avenue NW and 1st Street NW. Existing outlet pipes in the original existing box culvert from adjacent properties will be rerouted to the new box culvert. The tentative completion date for the project is the last week in October, given there are no additional rain delays.”
Prior to the printing of the Wednesday, October 4 edition of The Standard, Waukon City Manager Gary Boden also provided an update from the City of Waukon’s perspective, noting his agreement with Ertl’s assessment of the project’s progress, current status and projected completion in late October.
Boden expanded upon the removal and disposal of the underground storage tank which he noted is being disposed of by following Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulations. Boden further noted that both federal and state regulations are being followed relating to soil sampling and any contamination mitigation.
In response to a question relating to how the good condition of other public infrastructure is being ensured, Boden advised that adjustments have been made following exploratory excavation and discovery of some items and infrastructure as this project has progressed. He noted a larger than expected area or “belly” of sanitary sewer that was not anticipated but is being replaced with a straight section of sanitary sewer allowing for improved gravity flow. He further noted that as ground has been opened up, infrastructure relating to stormwater drainage from private buildings was determined as needing to be more directly rerouted as part of the water main replacement now necessary with the project.
