Construction Schedule Updates
Sanitary sewer lining work will be completed the week of October 27 along Terminal Road from Walnut Street to the dead-end, and Highway 36 Service Drive at Fulham Street. Temporary lane shifts will be in place with access to all commercial driveways maintained. The contractor will provide 48-hours' advance notice of any temporary water service disruptions, followed by same-day reminders.
Background
Aging Sanitary Sewer System
The majority of the city’s sanitary sewer mains were constructed in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, utilizing clay tile pipe. Over time, the joint materials have failed, allowing root intrusion. Clay pipe is also susceptible to cracking and construction damage. The conventional method of digging and replacing the pipe (“open-cut replacement”) is very expensive, and disruptive to property owners.
Cured-in-Place Pipe Lining
The City’s Capital Improvement Plan includes annual funding for a sanitary sewer main lining program to extend the life of our sanitary sewers by 50 years or more. This technology, called cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), installs a new liner pipe inside the old sewer main without digging up city streets, which results in minimal disruption to residents during construction.
The liner pipe is inserted into the main through existing manholes and cured in place with a heat or steam process. Any given segment is usually completed in one working day. Service line connections are reopened using a robotic cutter and remote cameras. During the process, existing flows are bypassed using pumps.
This technology has been proven over the past 25 years, and has become more cost-effective than open cut replacement. This type of renovation is an annual project for the foreseeable future as our sewer infrastructure continues to age.
The lining prevents infiltration of groundwater into the system through cracks in aged pipe, so this work can be credited toward inflow / infiltration work program as required by Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) and is eligible for partial grant reimbursements through MCES.
Odor
During the curing process, you may smell an odor from the resin used for the lining pipe. If you smell it, your sanitary traps could be dry. Please run water in seldom-used sinks and pour water into basement floor drains. This will refill the trap and help prevent smells entering your home from the sanitary main.
This smell is different from natural gas, which is described as similar to rotten eggs or sulfur. If you smell gas, immediately get everyone to a safe location and call Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-2999 and 911 in an emergency.
Communications
The 2025 Sewer Lining Project consists of approximately 11,000 linear feet (approximately 2 miles) of sanitary sewer main rehabilitation throughout the city. The mains scheduled for rehabilitation range in size from 8 to 24 inches in diameter and are composed of various materials, including vitrified clay pipe (VCP), reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), and cast iron pipe (CIP).
The project areas can be found on the project map.
Our contractor will give notice to affected residents before work is conducted and another notice at least 24 hours ahead of their work.
Project Milestones
General project milestones are below and are subject to change:
March 2025 – Project is open for contractors to bid.
April 21, 2025 – Insituform Technologies was the selected and approved by City Council.
May 1, 2025 – A preconstruction meeting was held with the contractor.
July 2025 – Pipe cleaning and televising has been completed.
August 2025 – Lining of pipes will begin.
October 1, 2025 – Final completion date set by the contract.