Manhole Rehabilitation on Oak and Bemiss

Part of Valdosta's ongoing Sanitary Sewer System Improvement Program

The City of Valdosta will begin Phase Four of the Manhole Rehabilitation/Replacement Program, which includes the repair of several manholes near the 3100 block of N. Oak Street Extension and the 2400 block of Bemiss Road near Habersham Road, beginning Monday, Sept. 14.

The first portion of Phase Four will include the rehabilitation of nine of the 30 scheduled manhole repairs and is expected to be completed within seven days. Motorists can expect to see traffic control signage in place to alert them of the work zones and any necessary lane shifts. As always, motorists are urged to drive with caution and follow the traffic warning signs for their safety and the safety of others.

The remaining 21 manhole repairs will take place in the coming weeks and are not expected to impede any major traffic areas.

The Manhole Rehabilitation/Replacement Program is part of the city's extensive and ongoing Sanitary Sewer System Improvement Program. To date, over 5,720 of the city's 6,473 manholes have been mapped and approximately 3,000 inspected. Over 110 sewer manholes have been replaced or rehabilitated since 2012, and an additional 30 to 60 manhole repairs will be out for bid each year through 2018.

In addition to the aggressive manhole repair and replacement project, the ongoing smoke testing program is on track to complete the remaining 180 miles of the city's sewer collection system over the next two years. To date, approximately 120 miles of the city's 300 miles of lines have been evaluated through smoke testing and CCTV work, and 254 defects have been identified for repairs. The city has repaired over 11,000 linear feet of existing sewer pipes utilizing the more cost-effective and less disruptive Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) process—a pipe-within-a-pipe method—rather than the traditional "dig and replace" repair method.

The sewer lift station rehabilitation program is in its third year, and 7 of the 15 stations identified for upgrades and improvements have been completed to date. A contract to rehabilitate four additional lift stations is scheduled to be awarded this week, and four more are in the design phase.

Furthermore, the new Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant is currently 16 months ahead of schedule and the Force Main Project is five months ahead of schedule. Both are expected to be online in early 2016.

For more information, call the City of Valdosta Utilities Department at (229) 259-3592 or visit www.valdostacity.com/utilities.