Pierce County is bracing for a critical infrastructure project slated for early 2025, as a deteriorating sewer pipe along Bridgeport Way West demands urgent attention. This necessity comes to light following an emergency proclamation signed by Executive Bruce Dammeier on December 23, 2024, as shared in a recent county announcement. The concerned pipe, compromised by the corrosive effects of hydrogen sulfide in wastewater, runs from 75th Street West to 67th Avenue West, traversing through Lakewood and University Place.
Earlier assessments had set the repair of this pipe, a victim of time and chemistry, for 2029 – but fate, influenced by the findings of a video inspection this past fall, has mandated an acceleration. Complexity arises from the terrain's incline and the pipe's depth, culminating in the decision to move swiftly. This inspection was part of an increased monitoring initiative, a facet of the 2024-2025 budget, geared at mitigating risk and maintaining the county's wastewater infrastructure.
Pierce County officials are prepping for the task at hand by planning a sewer bypass installation that will reroute the wastewater, thus stemming further degradation of the pipe until the crews can begin their work. Coordination with Lakewood and University Place municipalities is in the works, aiming to nail down the nitty-gritty of construction schedules and expected disruptions.
Residents and commuters can anticipate at least a six-month stretch of construction once the project commences. Details on the specific start date and anticipated traffic implications are forthcoming. For the time being, the county assures that passage along Bridgeport Way West remains uninterrupted. Motorists and community members can stay tuned as more information surfaces. The public will be duly informed, ensuring that surprise is an element reserved solely for the pipe's untimely deterioration, not the daily commute.
