General Information
What is the Briar Creek Sewer System Improvement Project?
Why is the sewer system improvement project necessary?
What is the Briar Creek basin?
At what stage is the project?
Will the City want to buy an easement from me?
How much will the project cost?
Are other city projects being coordinated with the Briar Creek project?
How can property owners along Briar Creek and the public learn more about the project?
Will there be community meetings?
Who should I contact if I have a question about the project?
Construction
Where will improvements be constructed? When will it start?
How will construction impact me?
How will I get around during construction?
Will my water or sewer services be disrupted during construction?
General Information
What is the Briar Creek Sewer System Improvement Project? (back)
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities' project will improve the existing wastewater system along Briar Creek from the Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (near the intersection of Park and Tyvola roads) to the W.T. Harris/The Plaza area. (See map)
Why is the sewer system improvement project necessary? (back)
The project is driven by the need to improve the effectiveness of a sewer system worn by age, high usage, and natural and man-made obstructions. Improvements will provide sanitary sewer capacity to meet current and future needs, reduce the risk of sewer overflows, and protect the water quality in Briar Creek.
The sanitary sewer system serving the Briar Creek basin depends on pipelines installed at different times during the past 80 years. Parallel pipelines - one on each side of the creek - exist along most of the route. They range in size from 12 inches to 72 inches in diameter with a total length of nearly 100,000 linear feet (about 19 miles). The condition and capacity of these existing pipelines are not able to provide the level of service required by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities, new state laws and the Environmental Protection Agency.
What is the Briar Creek basin? (back)
The Briar Creek basin is the area of land that drains into Briar Creek or one of its tributaries. Sewer systems are designed around drainage basins because, in general, they work by gravity. Pipelines are typically buried along creeks, the lowest point in the basin, to take advantage of gravity to move the wastewater through the pipes to the treatment plant.
At what stage is the project? (back)
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities and consulting engineers CDM have studied the condition of existing pipelines, monitored wastewater flows in wet and dry weather, and have evaluated various techniques and options to improve the sewer system. An improvement plan has been developed and final design of the first phase is in progress. Final design includes development of construction specifications, detailed construction drawings, maps for easement acquisition, traffic control plans, and permitting.
Will the City want to buy an easement from me? (back)
Many easements already exist although the areas may be overgrown or are being used by property owners as part of their private property. It will be necessary to acquire additional right of way easements from some properties along the 10-mile project route. City representatives will individually contact every property owner from which an easement is needed.
How much will the project cost?(back)
For engineering, design and construction services, phase I of the Briar Creek project is expected to cost approximately $40 million. This project and all Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities capital improvement projects are funded with water and sewer user fees paid by current customers. Utilities does not receive city or county tax dollars.
Are other city projects being coordinated with the Briar Creek project? (back)
To create efficiencies and reduce impact to citizens, every effort is being made to coordinate construction with other city projects planned along Briar Creek. While no plans are definite at this time, coordination may develop with projects by Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services, Charlotte Storm Water Services, Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection, Charlotte Department of Transportation, and others.
How can property owners along Briar Creek and the public learn more about the project? (back)
Property owners and the public can learn about project progress by regularly visiting the project's Web site, signing up to receive the project newsletter by e-mail, and attending community meetings that will be announced through the local media and on this Web site.
? (back)
Yes. A community meeting was held in March 2005 . As these community workshops are scheduled, information about times and locations will be posted on this project Web site, provided to property owners in the project area and distributed to local media.
Who should I contact if I have a question about the project? (back)
For questions about the Briar Creek sewer system improvement project, call the 311 or 704-336-7600.
Construction
Where will improvements be constructed? When will it start?(back)
Improvements will be constructed within easement areas in the vicinity of existing wastewater pipelines along Briar Creek. Activity is expected to be noticeable on both sides of the creek along the entire route.
Construction will take place in three phases. The first phase at the south end of the project is expected to begin in 2006 and take about two years to complete. Remaining phases are not scheduled and may take ten or more years to complete depending on funding and other variables. Preliminary information about construction in each phase follows but may change due to additional field investigations and/or other input.
Phase I: Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant near Tyvola and Park roads to north of Randolph Road (Improvements fall on the east side of creek from south of Tyvola Road to north of Park Road; the west side of the creek north of Park Road to north of Runnymede Lane; and on both sides of the creek from Runnymede to Randolph Road except where they are located only on the west side (about one-half mile north and south of Providence Road and one-half mile north of Colony Road).
Phase II: North of Randolph Road to south of Country Club Drive (Improvements are planned to begin north of Randolph Road on the west side of the creek and then follow the west side of the creek to Independence Boulevard and Country Club Drive.)
Phase III: South of Country Club Drive to the W.T. Harris/The Plaza area (Improvements will be constructed on both sides of the creek and existing wastewater pipelines. Many improvements will be built on the east or south side of Briar Creek from Quiet Cove Court (near The Plaza/W.T. Harris area) to immediately south of Shamrock Drive. From Shamrock Drive to the south side of Country Club Drive, most improvements will be constructed on the west side of the creek.)
How will construction impact me? (back)
Engineers are currently working on the answer to this question, especially as it applies to individual properties. In general, engineers know on which side of the creek improvements are planned and that improvements will be tunneled under major streets such as Eastway Drive, Independence Boulevard, and Providence Road to limit traffic disruption. As specific information becomes available for each phase, it will be available to citizens at community meetings and through other means.
Pipeline construction typically involves four steps: (1) a construction area is established within construction easements for the safety of workers, motorists and citizens, (2) heavy equipment digs a trench, (3) pipe sections are installed/replaced, and (4) the disturbed area is restored. Pipeline construction progresses in segments to limit impact on any one area.
How will I get around during construction? (back)
Citizens will be able to walk, bike and drive as they normally would during construction because work will take place in easements along the creek where existing wastewater pipelines are located. Access points will be determined along short stretches of the project route to reduce impact to individual properties along the creek. Where it is necessary to make improvements across a neighborhood street, access to all properties will be provided via alternate routes. Major streets such as Eastway Drive, Independence Boulevard, and Providence Road will be tunneled to limit traffic disruption.
Will my water or sewer services be disrupted during construction? (back)
Disruptions to water and/or sewer services are not expected. If it becomes necessary to plan a service disruption, affected customers will be notified in advance.
