By JOHN HOWELL Sometimes when things break they go from bad to worse, and sometimes you get lucky. The Warwick Sewer Authority and the city got a bit of both when a pipe in Sandy Lane collapsed Thanksgiving eve, causing backups in 11 residences. The
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Sometimes when things break they go from bad to worse, and sometimes you get lucky.
The Warwick Sewer Authority and the city got a bit of both when a pipe in Sandy Lane collapsed Thanksgiving eve, causing backups in 11 residences. The authority set up a bypass to the blocked section of piping, area residents were alerted and cleanup measures were initiated for the 11 homes. Permanent corrective action – replacing about 175 feet of pipe between manholes across from Sandy Lane Apartments – was set to start Monday.
Then the situation went from bad to worse.
Sunday afternoon a section of Sandy Lane, located just where the emergency pump was set, caved in, dropping the pump that continued to operate into a sinkhole. The pump landed on top of a six-inch natural gas main. Suddenly, a bad situation went to a potentially explosive one.
That’s where the luck comes in.
The gas pipe held, and with the combined efforts of the city’s Department of Public Works, sewer authority and its contractor, D’Ambra Construction, the sinkhole was stabilized and the pump lifted out of the hole.
There appears to be no quick fix to the sewer line, meaning a construction crew will be on that section of Sandy Lane for about two weeks. The west bound lane in the vicinity of the sewer work will remain open during construction.
Janine Burke-Wells, director of the sewer authority, said routing traffic is problematic because of the number of dead end streets off Sandy Lane.
Monday morning traffic was backed up on Warwick Avenue and West Shore Road as motorists had to detour the highly-used thoroughfare.
“We’re going to have to take it step-by-step,” Burke-Wells said of the work ahead.
There’s more to consider than the sewer and gas line.
According to John Hannon, collection systems program manager, the project will also involve unearthing a “fragile” water main. Knowing that, water will be shut off for a portion of Sandy Lane today.
Lara D’Antuono, executive director of the Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs said the Club at Cooper, which is close to the break, was open Monday, but would be closed today. She hopes the club can reopen on Wednesday.
Also, there is a 12-inch storm water drain in the path of the section of pipe needing replacement. Hannon said the drainpipe wouldn’t be touched given the forecast of two inches of rain Monday night.
“But after that it looks like a week and a half of decent weather,” said Hannon. Conservatively, he said, repairs could take two weeks, “but be prepared for more.”
A 30-year employee of the sewer authority, Hannon said the authority has had to deal with five pipe collapses in recent years. He attributed the breaks to the age of the system and hydrogen sulfide gas, produced by sewerage that deteriorates the cement piping used in the 1960s. The resin pipes used today are impervious to the gas. The pipe needing replacement is 16 feet below Sandy Lane.
“We’ve dealt with this before,” said Hannon, “but this is the toughest so far.”
Burke-Wells said insurance adjusters have been on-site and that insurance is handling the cleanup of properties experiencing backups. Affected residents were offered the opportunity to be put up in hotels during the cleanup.
Still, it’s hard to deny that for those impacted by the unfortunate turns of events, their day-to-day reality at this point simply stinks.
“The whole neighborhood smells like sewage,” said one Armory Drive resident who wished to remain anonymous. He said that, while he hasn’t experienced any sewage backups, he feels for his neighbors – some of who have suffered multiple backup incidents in the past few years.
“I’m at the end [of the road], I’m lucky. I’m up [at higher elevation],” he said. “I feel bad for the people that aren’t.” On Monday afternoon, City Hall issued the following advisory:
Crews continue to work to repair damage caused by the collapse of a sewer line on Sandy Lane last week. The areas presently affected are Sandy Lane from Fletcher to Trent Avenues. Until further notice, residents are advised of the following information:
School Bus Drop/Off Pickup Location Changes
Until further notice, there will be 2 pickup and drop off locations for students attending Lippitt Elementary School, Toll Gate High School and WACTC:
Traffic Detours
Warwick Sewer Authority
As repair work continues, the Sewer Authority has established a dedicated phone line to provide updates on the progress of repairs, to include any anticipated water shut offs and/or traffic detours. This number is (401) 921-1122.
Updates will also be provided at:
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richardcorrente
Although it took me almost an hour to go from the City Hall to the Islander Restaurant last night, it still seems to me that the work on this sewer pipe is progressing at the fastest pace possible. Workers are there throughout the night and even when matters went from bad to worse, no one panicked. They just kept progressing. The workers haven't taken a break. (I've seen similar projects in Providence where EVERYONE seems to be on a break). There hasn't been one injury. Emergency procedures have taken place to re-route traffic and re-schedule events and the sewer authority has installed an information line to keep people updated. In my opinion the Warwick Sewer Authority is making the best of a really bad situation and they deserve our thanks.
I don't think Warwick taxpayers could have asked for more.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 Report this
Justanidiot
tank you master taxpayer panderer mayer
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 Report this
gwsjr75
I feel terribly for the affected homeowners. Unfortunately it is hard to understand this as an "accident" or an "emergency" when it has been known since at least 2011 that all of the similar pipes in this area are in imminent risk of failure. We can repair this one section of pipe, but the next section is bound to break soon, because many of the older pipes have the same problem. Last summer we saw a different section of the same pipe in the same area fail for the same reason, and homeowners had sewage in their basements and 300,000 of raw sewage flowed into the bay. Now we have a sinkhole in a major street, a near miss on a gas line explosion, a water main shutdown, and more homeowners with more sewage in their basements. What a mess. Someone needs to come up with a broader solution quickly, preferably before the next section of pipe fails.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018 Report this
wwkvoter
Wrwk75 - one of the best comments I have read.
For the record, corrente is NO ONE'S mayor. he was crushed in the election, and in the last one.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 Report this
Cat2222
While I can't disagree with Wrwk75, I think that all good intentions to build the replacement of the pipes into the budget will be meet with resistance. Not because it isn't a good idea but because it would cost more money. In the long run I imagine we are paying out way more money by fixing the immediate problems and paying out to the homeowners rather than tackling the problem as a whole. It just seems to be the way we work in this city and state. We will continue to kick the can down the road until something catastrophic happens and then we will deal with it and it will have a sky high price tag.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 Report this
patientman
Cat222, Even with max 4.25% property tax increases Warwick has to kick the can down the road. Not a good combination. Warwick needs to raise revenue through growth or it'll never get better, only worse.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 Report this
CrickeeRaven
patientman, don't confuse the city budget with the sewer department budget. Property taxes and sewer use fees are separate from each other because the sewer budget is what's called an enterprise fund, meaning it operates independent from the municipal budget.
The sewer department also has its own ability to float bonds and otherwise put money into the infrastructure, and hopefully it will -- soon.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 Report this
patientman
Crickee, Thanks, I was conflating the two. Unfortunately it doesn't mean the larger point is off base. If we don't increase revenue through growth we'll have to do it with rates. Any predictions on how the increased revenue will be realized?
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 Report this
CrickeeRaven
patientman, the sewer authority is very likely going to have to take out bonds for the major projects and raise user fees to pay for them.
I'm honestly not sure what your term "revenue through growth" means, though.
More houses? That costs more over the long run, in terms of services.
More businesses? That's happening, and the commercial sector's total valuation is going up.
But, yes, the remaining way of raising revenue, aside from more development, is higher use fees and property taxes.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 Report this
patientman
Crickee, Raising revenue through growth means more businesses selling more goods and services and paying more in property and income taxes. Raising revenue through growth means an improving economy increasing property values so property tax revenues rise do to assessment valuations as opposed to higher rates. You can be forgiven for the confusion if you've never lived in a city or state that raised revenue through growth. The sewer rates are already too damn high. The city needs to charge a connect capable fee for people that can connect to the sewers but choose not to. This was supposed to be the case when at least one earlier sewer phase was completed. The city backed down when there was some vocal opposition. Totally screwed the people that connected. The city increased taxes 4.25% & our schools are still suing the city for under funding the district. Warwick is not and has not been a well run city. Any problems the city faces isn't because the taxpayers have been paying too little.
Saturday, December 1, 2018 Report this