Water work for Rehoboth outfall nearly complete
In-water work on Rehoboth Beach’s ocean outfall is just about complete, city officials say, with the entire project set to wrap up in late May.
City Manager Sharon Lynn said outfall contractor Manson Construction has successfully completed pressure testing of the diffuser, which will disperse treated effluent into the ocean. The pressure testing is designed to ensure the diffuser did not leak. She said Manson is also wrapping up pipe connections between the ocean pipe and the force main on land. Lynn said Manson will finish installing concrete mattresses and complete backfill of the pipe trench this week so the offshore operation will demobilize by the end of the month. Subcontractors have begun restoring the dunes and parking lot of Deauville Beach - where pipe drilling was staged - as Manson winds down, Lynn said.
The city received a permit extension from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to work in the ocean until May 23.
Meanwhile, through Friday, April 27, there will be a detour on State Road as the city and force-main contractor A-Del Construction work on repairing a water main and installing curbing. Lynn said State Road will be closed 24 hours a day and road closure and detour signs will be installed.
A-Del is nearing the finish line on the force-main; Lynn said work crossing under Rehoboth Avenue is expected to be complete in one week. She said A-Del crews will be working near the Epworth cemetery on Henlopen Avenue this week as they work toward Grove Park. A subcontractor crew has been working at Canal Street to jack-and-bore the pipe under Rehoboth Avenue and Grove Park to connect with the force main running under Henlopen Avenue to the disposal site off Deauville Beach. Mayor Paul Kuhns said during the jack-and-bore work, the contractor came across an obstruction behind the Rehoboth Beach Museum that delayed work. Kuhns said he believes the obstruction was the foundation of the old railroad bridge that ran across the canal.
Lynn said A-Del anticipates completing site restoration and repaving the streets in mid-May. Once Henlopen Avenue is repaved, she said stone will be placed in disturbed areas. Homeowners can have a different stone installed at their property by calling the city’s building and licensing department with their intended plans. The city commissioners will meet at 9 a.m., Tuesday, May 1, in the city commissioners’ room to approve a change order regarding the Henlopen Avenue repaving and receive an update on other potential change orders.
Lynn said A-Del has installed 5,300 linear feet of pipe from the wastewater treatment plant to the jack-and-bore pit on Canal Street. From Deauville Beach along Henlopen Avenue, 4,500 linear feet of pipe has been installed; Lynn said 1,500 linear feet of pipe left to be installed.
Lynn said the entire project should be completed before Memorial Day.
