Conway Road Sewer Pipeline Project: 5 Things To Know

Have you noticed the long lengths of black pipe, the orange-vested construction workers and the heavy equipment on either side of Conway Road just east of White? They're all part of a $2.8 million project by the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District to repair more than 12 miles worth of sewer lines in the West County area.

The Conway Road area of the project started in early September and is expected to wrap up in about three or four weeks, according to Tim Bussen, project manager for O'Fallon's SAK Construction, the contractor on the project. The Conway section will cover about 5,000 feet of sewage line ranging from 30 inches in diameter to 8 inches.

What's the black piping on the ground under the power lines?
Bussen says those are 18-inch lengths of pipe that are being used as temporary bypass lines for the main 30-inch sewer lines as they're repaired. Pumps drive the sewage through those lines while workers repair the main lines.

What are the workers actually doing?
They're using a resin-coated felt material to line the inside of the existing sewer lines. When the resin hardens, it "basically creates a new pipe inside the existing pipe" Bussen said. The idea: prevent ground water and storm water from seeping into the sewer system. "This helps avoid basement backups and sewer overflows," said MSD spokesman Lance LeComb.

What's it cost and who's paying?
Let's let LaComb do the talking: "This is one of many projects MSD will be designing and building as part of an agreement between MSD and (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) that was finalized in 2012.  The agreement covers 23 years of work at a cost of $4.7 billion. The Conway segment is part of a $2.8 million contract covering 12 miles of sewage line in the Chesterfield and Ballwin areas and is paid for through MSD rates and a $945 million bond authorization that was approved by 85 percent of area voters in June 2012." You can read more here and here.

When's it going to be done?
Work around Conway started in early September and should be done by late October, weather permitting. The entire segment of the project that SAK is doing around West County has a June 16 deadline, Bussen said.

How many homes and businesses are affected?
That's 4,600 homes and businesses, LaComb said. "We will also rehabilitate 333 manholes and 299 service connections."