Pierce County plans emergency sewer repair. Here’s what we know about costs, traffic
Pierce County is planning to repair a section of sewer pipe within and near Bridgeport Way West in early 2025 after a recent inspection determined it was in urgent need of fixing or replacement, the county said Monday.
Work to repair the segment in Lakewood and University Place — consisting of pipe between 36- and 72-inches in diameter — is expected to take at least six months. The work will span between 75th Street West and 67th Avenue West, according to the county.
The estimated $7 million to $8 million project’s start date wasn’t immediately known. It’s also not fully clear what motorists in the area should expect. The county said it’s anticipating temporary traffic impacts as it installs a sewer bypass to divert wastewater flow and prevent further damage to the pipe before the repair.
Traffic impacts are expected at or near the intersections of Bridgeport Way West with 75th Street West and Meadow Park Road, as well as on the west side of Bridgeport Way West just north of Walmart, according to the county.
“The bypass will be installed mostly above ground in the sidewalk area along the east side of Bridgeport from 75th Street West to 67th Avenue West,” the county said on a project-dedicated web page. “A pedestrian detour will send walkers and rollers to the sidewalk along the west side of Bridgeport.”
Plans for the bypass and repair were still being finalized Monday. County Executive Bruce Dammeier signed an emergency proclamation last week to allow the county’s Sewer Division to obtain a contractor and begin repairs as soon as possible.
“Things are moving quickly,” county spokesperson Jenny Burger told The News Tribune in a brief interview.
A video inspection this past fall — backed by new funding intended to increase wastewater infrastructure monitoring — showed that the reinforced concrete pipe in the segment had been damaged over time by hydrogen sulfide, which is present in wastewater, according to the county. Crews previously couldn’t evaluate the segment due to the steep incline in the area and the pipe’s depth.
The pipe, based on its age, had been scheduled for repair or replacement in 2029, the county said.
Visit PierceCountyWa.gov/BridgeportRepair for more information on the project.
