posted on: 9/14/2020
Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 7 a.m., emergency repairs to fix a collapsed section of drain line on Central Avenue adjacent to Pine Hill Cemetery. Traffic delays are expected with only a single lane of alternating traffic through the construction area. Parking will be prohibited along Central Avenue in the work area.
The City has contracted with SUR Construction of Rochester to perform emergency excavation and repairs between 120 and 132 Central Ave. The work is due to a collapsed storm drain pipe that, if left unattended, could cause a sinkhole on Central Avenue. Additionally, without the emergency repair, the storm drain line would not be functional, and roadway flooding could occur in the event of heavy precipitation.
Based on the identified section of the collapsed pipe, the work is expected to last three days. That could change if workers discover more collapsed pipe or other pipe damage. Construction activity is scheduled to take place between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Flaggers will be on-site to help guide the safe flow of traffic.
The emergency repair area is part of a more extensive Capital Improvements Program (CIP) Central Avenue road reconstruction that would replace the damaged section of the drainage pipe. Design is already underway in anticipation of the project beginning in 2021. However, during a recent video inspection by the City, inspectors discovered a segment of drainpipe had collapsed and determined that a sinkhole is imminent.
Community Services reached out to sewer lining vendors to determine the feasibility of inserting a liner inside the pipe for a short-term repair until full replacement in the CIP project but determined repairs would not work because segments of the pipe had already collapsed.
"We discussed trying to survive another 12 months, but don't dare risk going into the winter or next spring without correcting the problem," said Community Services Director John Storer. "A sinkhole could occur at any time."
For more information, contact Community Services at 516-6450.
