WEP is partnering with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to provide funds for proposed sewer upgrades in conjunction with the Interstate 81 (I-81) renovations project. As NYSDOT is upgrading their infrastructure associated with I-81 this construction will have impacts to county sewer infrastructure. If the proposed DOT project is impacting WEP infrastructure then DOT will pay for and address the infrastructure impacts as needed. Items that WEP would like to address that are adjacent or near the I-81 work are considered betterments by the DOT. This project is to fund the betterment work above the DOTs scope that the County would like to have DOT address under the I-81 project. Funding of this project by the County is contingent upon NYDOT advancing the Community Grid option for replacement of I-81.
Project Detail and Status:
The NYS DEC Consent Order requires WEP to undertake CSO abatement projects in accordance with EPA's CSO Control Policy. The majority of the County's long-term efforts to address combined sewer overflows will be centered on opportunistic projects in which the county teams with others such as this project with NYSDOT. These types of teaming projects have historically been the most affordable projects in the County's Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) program. WEP and DOT have coordinated the I-81 Renovation project and impacts on WEP sewer infrastructure. If the proposed DOT project is impacting WEP infrastructure then DOT will pay for and address the infrastructure impacts. Items that WEP would like to address that are adjacent or near the I-81 work are considered betterments by the DOT and would need to be funded by the County. Engineering of this project will be performed by the DOT, oversight will be performed by the County with engineering assistance as part of the Long Term Control Plan Scope of services currently in place, Construction Inspection services for WEP infrastructure is to be procured through an RFP process. Currently, DOT is planning on starting construction of the I-81 project in 2022. WEP betterment projects that falls under Phase 1 of the I-81 project are as follows: Burnet Trunk Sewer and CSO 080A Regulator Replacement, and Hiawatha Trunk Sewer Replacement, New Floatables Control Facility (Replacing the Butternut and Burnet Facilities), Salina Street Storm Sewer. Construction of the Phase 1 portion of the I-81 project is expected to start construction in 2022. WEP betterment work that falls under Phase 2 of the I-81 project is the Burnet Trunk Sewer and CSO 080A Regulator Replacement Project. Construction of the Phase 2 portion of the I-81 project is expected to start construction in 2025. Approximate Cost of Sewer improvements as result of work related to I-81 project: $80M, the majority of the work will be funded by NYS DOT, approximately $65M. County will pay $15M for betterments that make sense to be done in this circumstance (ground is open, pipes are exposed, workforce and machinery is in place). The county was planning to do the work that now will cost $15M anyhow, even if the I-81 project was not going to take place. The extra scope that will cost $15M under these circumstance (ground is open, pipes are exposed, workforce and machinery is in place) would cost $50M if we had to do it later. WEP will have one less Floatable Control Facilities, and the new facility will be downstream of the overflow rather than in the sewer and will be designed with less hard costs to operate the facility. Additionally the larger DOT project will remove 75 million gallons annually from the combined sewer system that will no longer be conveyed to Special Funds Page 144 Metro for treatment, saving the County approximately $265,500 annually. It is anticipated that legislative approval for $11,000,000 will be sought in fall 2021. Most of these funds will be used for the phase 1 of construction and a small part for project oversight. The funds for phase 2 ($4,400,000) will be requested in fall 2024. The project is include in the Onondaga County's 2024-2029 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). As of December 1, 2023, information regarding a design team and the contractor selection has not been disclosed. A firm timeline for construction has not been established. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.
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