Market Street sewer project delayed

Clark County

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November 21, 2009

Mayor: Final asphalting likely next year

By DAVID A. MANN The News and Tribune Sat Nov 21, 2009, 05:14 PM EST

An effort to replace an old combined storm and sanitary sewer pipe on Market Street has taken longer than expected and will likely not be completely finished until early next year, according to Mayor Tom Galligan.

The fix is part of an ongoing plan to correct combined sewer overflows, or CSOs, which flush untreated sewage into waterways, including the Ohio River, during heavy rains. Correcting the problem was recently the subject of legal negotiations between the city and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Several delays have been encountered since the project got started a few months ago.

Galligan notes that as the project started, Market Street was closed and a detour was set up on Riverside Drive. However, shortly afterward, state workers began painting the Kennedy Bridge, closing access to Riverside Drive.

“So that killed our detour,” he said, forcing Market Street to reopen while the work paused.

Additionally, city engineer Bob Miller notes workers discovered a collapsed sewer pipe in the area while working, which he said took a few days to replace.

And neighbors have reported that workers have found bits of an old trolley line, which use to run down Market Street decades ago, buried under the pavement.

Workers were back on the job Friday. The road is closed to through traffic and parts of it are covered in gravel.

One resident stopped by The Evening News office with complaints about the dust. However, neighbors interviewed last week said they were taking the construction project in stride.

“We’re making it,” said Pete Moore, a Market Street resident.

“The dust was a real problem for a while” but, he noted, that the situation has improved greatly as city workers have come through and sprayed water to settle it.

Carol and Steve Stenbro, owners of the Market Street Inn, said aside from a little bit of confusion from guest about which roads they can go down, the project hasn’t affected business.

They too said the area has been dusty, but Carol Stenbro added, “that’s a part of it. We’re glad they’re making improvements.”

She notes that since the work has been done there has not been any water backup in their basement during heavy rains.

And Steve Stenbro said workers have done a good job cleaning up the area after the workday is through.

Galligan said that workers would finish the portion of the project that they’re on, and then pull out of the area until February, when final asphalting will start.

Excel Excavating, owned by Galligan’s sons, is handling the project.