The arteries of Chandler's infrastructure are set to receive a $45 million makeover, with the city targeting its largest sewer line for a much-needed refurbishment. According to officials, the colossal 66-inch pipe, responsible for funneling roughly half of Chandler's wastewater daily, runs along Price Road and is in dire need of rehab.
Chandler City Council has given the green light to B&F Contracting, Inc. and Dibble & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc., doling out construction and management service contracts worth over $43 million and $1.5 million respectively. The official announcement detailed that the ambitious project includes overhauling approximately 13,000 linear feet of sewer pipe and 22 manholes, ensuring the city's waste keeps moving without a hitch.
Construction is slated to kick off in June 2024, with a completion date penciled in for January 2026. The first order of business involves laying temporary bypass pipes to reroute millions of gallons of wastewater each day, allowing workers to access and refresh the old pipe without interruption to the sewage flow or, for the most part, to drivers.
While initial traffic interruptions are expected to be minimal, starting August 2024, the squeeze will be felt as lanes close to accommodate the bypass. Particularly heavy disruptions are on the horizon for fall 2024 when the city plans to shut down additional lanes, reducing Price Road's capacity by half and likely doubling down on commuter headaches until summer 2025.
The sprawling endeavor is meticulously timed; its commencement dovetails the completion of other projects likely to affect the same stretches of road. The Chandler Public Works Department assures that they are coordinating with the Arizona Department of Transportation to mesh the sewer works with upcoming enhancements to the Loop 202 Santan Freeway, minimizing the overlap of construction chaos.
For motorists and residents, this sewer system reinforcement is more than an inconvenient construction project—it's an investment in Chandler's future, ensuring its backend, so to speak, can handle the load for years to come. Patience will be a small price to pay for driving over smoother, better-underpinned roads once the dust settles come fall 2025.
