Starting this week, construction activity has significantly increased on the three-year, $62 million Secondary Treatment Plant Upgrade and Recycled Water Expansion Project.
This increased construction activity means there will be a major increase in heavy construction equipment traffic on Smith Ranch Road – a high level of caution is advised for anyone visiting the District. In particular, this activity will include very frequent concrete and reinforcement steel deliveries that will be needed to keep pace with the construction progress.
This ramping-up of work will continue at least over the next six weeks, as crews will be drilling and installing over 100 very large (30-inch diameter) drilled concrete caissons (i.e. drilled piers) for the new Aeration Basin and Electrical Building. The bottoms of the caissons are being drilled 10-12 feet into bedrock, making the drilling operation particularly active and very noisy. The caissons will vary in length from 10 feet to over 50 feet, depending on the varying profiles of different sections of bedrock.
If you are planning on visiting the District offices or the reclamation ponds and trails:
- BE CAUTIOUS – you are very near a major construction zone; drive slowly and watch in all directions for equipment, trucks, and work crews on Smith Ranch Road
- BE AWARE of lane changes and temporary closures of Smith Ranch Road
- Observe all safety & TRAFFIC signage and follow directions from construction flaggers and workers
- DO NOT PARK ON SMITH RANCH ROAD – the only parking for the reclamation ponds is at the trailhead parking lot – there is no overflow parking available
Thank you for your continued patience during this construction. We apologize for any inconvenience – these cautionary guidelines are necessary to help ensure the safety of all visitors and construction crews.