Oak Ridge is tuning up its below-ground infrastructure as Public Works crews gear up to scrutinize the city's sewer system. Starting yesterday, with tools in hand that could be straight out of a futuristic flick, officials aim to keep things flowing smoothly for residents. A sonic solution, the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool or SL-RAT, will send acoustic waves coursing through pipes to pinpoint potential blockages.
The work is no fly-by-night operation, slated to span roughly a month in neighborhoods from North Illinois Ave to Louisiana Avenue, and a string of others including Washburn Circle; Wellington Circle; Wayside Road; and Inca Circle, according to a city announcement. But residents won't just bear witness to city crews on the move — they might catch a symphony of odd sounds emanating from their plumbing. It's all part of the sonic sleuthing, a side effect of the high-frequency tech in play.
The areas scheduled for inspection are a list that reads like an alphabetical tour through town, with Jefferson Avenue, Jonathan Lane, and Jonathan Place among them. Further exploration is set for Johnson Road and its spider web of side streets: Jersey Lane; Jellico Lane; Jay Lane; Jarrett Lane; and a hop over to Lancaster Road, then Jefferson Road. Virginia Road; Valparaiso Road; and Villanova Road round out the route, with crews spreading out along North and South Jefferson and branches like Latimer Road and South Lansing Road, before wrapping up from Robertsville Road to Raleigh Road.
With a promise of maintenance rather than mayhem, Oak Ridge Public Works offers reassurance that the city's sewers will soon be in tip-top shape. If residents feel unsettled by the unusual acoustic occurrences, they're encouraged to reach out to Public Works at (865) 425-1875 or visit the city's website. Because as the proverbial saying decidedly does not go, it's the unseen pipes that often play the sweetest tunes — or at least keep backyards from turning into swamps.
