While work crews at the sinkhole in Macomb County again have avoided dumping raw sewage into the Clinton River during rainy weather, county Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller announced a detailed plan to construct a temporary sewer bypass so that the collapsed 11-foot diameter pipe below 15 Mile Road can be replaced.
The meandering path of the temporary bypass will not block access to businesses in the area – in Fraser and Sterling Heights.
Here is how Miller’s office describes the project:
The route for the larger diameter temporary new pipeline will begin at Fontana Drive as a 54” pipe on the south side of 15 Mile in Sterling Heights. It will proceed east on 15 Mile in the easement between the street and sidewalk to Hayes, cross Hayes, and then cross 15 Mile underground to the north side of 15 Mile where it will connect to a large manifold (a chamber to connect more than one pipe).
At the manifold connection, the service will then become two 48” pipes, placed side-by-side in the north side easement until they get to the general area of the Green Lantern Pizzeria and Lounge, and at this point, the pipes will cross 15 Mile underground to the south side of 15 Mile. The pipes will then continue above ground east along the south side of 15 Mile, in the easement and curb lane, to Utica Road. Impacted 15 Mile Road businesses on the east side of the sink hole will have … an entrance/exit available from the Meijer parking lot with entry off Utica Road.
The pipelines will cross Utica Road underground, immediately adjacent to the 32” pipe currently in place, and then continue east in the lane nearest the center lane on 15 Mile. The pipes will be projected by barriers on both sides, maintaining three traffic lanes, one eastbound and one westbound, with a center turn lane, between Utica and Garfield Roads. The “Signature Square Shopping Center,” located at the corner of Utica and Hayes (will be) accessible via the entrance/exit on Utica Road.
The curb lane of eastbound 15 Mile will be open for residents who live between Utica Road and just east of Mercer Lane.
The pipes continue east in the lane nearest the center turn lane, to approximately 200 feet west of Garfield Road where a pumping station is located; there will be seven pumps in operation at this location to assist in the bypass operations. The sewer flows from east to west, and this pipeline will serve to reroute the sewage around the damaged section at the sinkhole, and redeposit it into a large diameter manhole leading to the interceptor at 15 Mile and Fontana Drive.
According to plans, the two 48-inch pipes will be in place by the end of February, and once they’re in place, and working properly, the 32-inch pipe will be removed, and the entrance/exit on 15 Mile restored for the Signature Square Shopping Center. It is estimated this work will be accomplished by the end of March.
This rerouting is necessary in order for engineers and contractors to access the damaged section of the sewer, make the necessary repairs, and get everything back in order just as soon as able.
