Entire project expected to be completed in early 2021
As the completion of the building housing the City of Sarasota’s new Lift Station 87 nears, the contractor’s work schedule proposes the closure of Osprey Avenue beginning May 26 from just north of Hudson Bayou to Alta Vista Street, the city has announced.
“The closure will allow crews to replace water and sewer pipelines as well as install new manholes and valves at the intersection of Osprey Avenue and Lincoln Drive,” a news release explains. After that has been completed, “crews will excavate and install gravity sewer mains along Alta Vista, Pomelo Avenue and Pomelo Place,” the release continues. “The partial closure of Osprey Avenue will continue through March 2021 to facilitate the water and sewer utility work in the area,” the release adds.
“Variable message boards will be placed in the area next week to inform motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians,” the release points out. Traffic will be directed to the intersection of Mound Street and U.S. 41 in an effort to prevent disruptions to neighborhoods, the release says. City staff will install temporary speed bumps “to deter traffic from taking shortcuts through neighborhoods,” along with signage to clearly identify business access on Osprey Avenue, the release points out.
When complete, Lift Station 87 will handle a third of the city’s wastewater flow, the release adds. Further, the “new design ensures reliable and effective operations, even during a Category 3 hurricane.”
Lift Station 87 will replace Lift Station 7, which is located at 935 Pomelo Ave. The project is being built in phases to protect the city’s investment, the release explains.
Phase 1 (microtunnels under Hudson Bayou, Osprey Avenue and Luke Wood Park) “was successfully completed in June 2017. Phase 2 (Lift station 87 wetwell, building and site landscaping) is scheduled for final completion in early fall,” the release notes.
Phase 3 (open cut gravity sewer pipeline construction south of Hudson Bayou and the demolition of Lift Station 7) is scheduled to begin this summer, as noted above, with completion anticipated early in 2021, the release says. After the entire project has been completed, “wastewater flow will be completely and permanently redirected from Lift Station 7 to Lift Station 87.”
For more information about the Lift Station 87 project, go to www.LiftStation87.com or call the project information line at 941-356-8071. Interested parties also may subscribe to email updates at www.sarasotafl.gov/services/email-subscriptions.