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Project Highlights

The Midland/Colvin trunk sewer links the Southside of Syracuse to the Onondaga County sewer system and, ultimately, to the Metropolitan Syracuse Wastewater Treatment Plant. Measuring 87 inches tall, 58 inches wide, this pipe has a capacity exceeding 100 million gallons of wastewater a day. Originally constructed in 1896 using brick, the egg-shaped sewer lies 28 feet underground, requiring a significant excavation effort involving a sophisticated bypass pumping system and engineered support structures to ensure worker safety.


Completed Schedule

2024 Winter

Routine inspection reveals structure compromise, repair needed Legislative authorization, City of Syracuse notified to reroute pedestrians and traffic away from site during repair

2024 May

Construction/Preparation
-Access: Roadway and surrounding earth removed
-Site Safety: Traffic rerouted, walers and sheeting installed
-Wastewater: Temporary pipelines and manholes installed to reroute wastewater while permanent infrastructure is repaired

2024 June

An abandoned kitten was discovered by WEP employees in a bag at the construction site — and was immediately adopted! Construction/Repair
-Access: Bricks surrounding pipe removed
-Repair: New sewer lining installed to support existing sewer

2024 July

Repair Completed
Refilled ground, repaved road