PRESS RELEASE - Water Street Sewer Replacement Project Starting

Water Street sewer project will use innovative methods to repair essential community infrastructure.

The Water Street Sewer Replacement Project will start construction January 27, 2025 and run through mid-May 2025. The $3.2 million project will extend the existing Monroe Lift Station force main approximately 1,850 feet using an innovative method called horizontal directional drilling, or HDD. This method of construction is used to install pipe in areas not amenable to open trench construction, including environmentally sensitive areas and main thoroughfares like Water Street. The City will also replace approximately 1,830 feet of existing gravity sewer main via slip lining, which is the process of inserting a smaller pipe into the failing larger pipe. 

This project will rectify an issue common to asbestos concrete pipe, which deteriorates when exposed to gases from sewage. The Water Street sewer main line, in the vicinity of Water and Grant Streets, collapsed in December 2022 requiring an emergency repair, and collapsed again near the ferry terminal intersection in September 2024. After the initial break in 2022, the City began applying for grants and low interest loans to fund a sewer main replacement and was successful in putting together a funding package for the project to begin this year.

Project Schedule & Construction Notices

Safety in a high-traffic area like Water Street is of the utmost importance.

• The Water Street Sewer Replacement project will require 80 working days of construction and is expected to conclude in mid-May, barring any unforeseen delays.
• Work hours will be between 7:00AM and 6:00PM.
• Equipment is staged along Water Street behind the Lighthouse Center building, and adjacent to where work is occurring. The equipment staging and construction areas will be cordoned off.
• There will be bike lane and single lane closures along the bluff side of Water Street, with open pits for sewer pipe connections. Pits will be closed with steel plating during non-construction hours. One side of the road along Water Street will remain open for narrow two-way vehicle and bicycle traffic – use extreme caution and drive slowly through the construction area. Pedestrians should use caution walking along the sidewalk in this area.
• Businesses and residential parking lots will remain open and accessible at all times with the exception of the head-in parking located at the Triangle building on Water Street between Gaines and SR20.  This is planned for project equipment and material staging within project construction boundary.  
• In the first part of the project, there will be sawcutting of asphalt and concrete, and drilling, which will generate construction noise during working hours.
• It is expected that the road along SR20 will remain open for the entirety of the project.  Traffic will be guided by flaggers when necessary.

We understand that construction has impacts to businesses and residents and we ask for everyone’s patience, grace, and support as we make much-needed repairs to our sewer system. The project is necessary in order to prevent future sewer pipe collapse. The project webpage has additional information and City staff will post updates periodically.