A  $5.9 million new sewage pipeline project along U.S. Hwy. 301, from S.R. 674 north to Valencia Grande Ave. is scheduled to begin. The project will install approximately 8,300 feet of 30-inch sewage force main to meet demand

The Hillsborough County Public Utilities Department met with residents during a public meeting earlier this month to discuss the construction of a new sewage pipeline along U.S. Hwy. 301 in south Hillsborough County.

Representatives from the design and construction firms were on hand at SouthShore Regional Library, located at 15816 Beth Shields Way, in Ruskin to answer questions as to what to expect during construction.

According to Michelle Van Dyke, of the Hillsborough County Communications Department, the $5.9 million project will install approximately 8,300 feet of 30-inch sewage force main along U.S. Hwy. 301, from S.R. 674 north to Valencia Grande Ave.

“The project is part of an ongoing effort to meet growth and demand to upgrade as well as upsize the lines, in order to increase capacity and keep up with the recent growth in the area,” Van Dyke said.

Construction is expected to begin this month and will be completed by the spring of 2013, under the direction of Bradenton-based contractor E.T. MacKenzie of Florida Inc.

The pipeline will connect the County’s Falkenburg and Valrico wastewater treatment plants, to the South County Wastewater Treatment Plant at S.R. 674 and I-75. This will give the County the flexibility to divert the water flow from the other stations, if necessary, by increasing overall system reliability and by providing a second transmission main along the S.R. 674 corridor.

The project is being funded through the Water Enterprise’s Capital Improvement Program.

Design engineer and project manager Pedro Rivera said that since the stretch of the main will run mostly on commercial property, other than perhaps some light traffic or noise along the corridor, the construction project is not expected to cause any problems for residents.

“Our contract includes maintaining traffic flow,” Rivera said. “Our staff will work with construction crews to ensure local residents and businesses can access their homes and buildings with minimal inconvenience.”

For more information about the project please visit the County’s Water Resource Division department at www.hillsboroughcounty.org. or call Steve Valdez, Client Services Manager, 272-5275.

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