Disruptive pipeline still awaiting construction

The pipe extends into the parking lot near Huron River Drive. Ruby Go | Washtenaw Voice

Little visible progress has been made since the bypass was installed

By Savan Saiya-Cork
Staff Writer

Driving around WCC’s campus used to be simple. But for the past few months, a 1,000-foot pipe has stretched across the college’s northwestern yard and blocked the road between parking lots four and five. Unfortunately, for commuters, no progress has been made ever since the installation of the above-ground pipeline, and the pipe won’t be gone anytime soon.

WCC’s facilities management department estimates that construction will be completed by the end of the summer, but removal of the bypass pipeline and the implementation of a permanent below-ground sanitation pipe have not begun. The above-ground pipeline will continue to block the road while the college continues waiting for contractors to bid on the project’s construction rights.

“The design for a new sanitary main line is out to bid. Construction will begin once a contract is awarded to the lowest responsive bidder qualified to perform the scope of work,” said James Becsey, vice president of Facilities Development & Operations. “The anticipated completion date is this summer.”

The college initially installed the bypass pipeline after two sections of WCC’s sewer systems broke, within 12 days of one another, and leaked more than 7,000 gallons of raw sewage into two of WCC’s water retention ponds. After the specific breakage points were patched up, the college used a temporary pipeline to avoid further sewage spills.

Installing the temporary pipe cost $284,291, which depleted the Campus Repair and Maintenance (CRM) budget. Because the project would have completely drained the college’s CRM fund, the WCC Board of Trustees reappropriated money from 2023’s capital project funding to transfer to the CRM fund. Since WCC’s budget for 2024 has not been finalized, it is hard to speculate how much money the college is willing to spend on the installation of a new pipe and how long the college will wait for companies to bid on the project’s execution.

While it is still impossible to drive between parking lots four and five, Becsey has two tips for avoiding the pipe.

“Drivers can get from lot four to lot five by exiting onto North Huron River Drive and re-entering campus via the west service drive, which loops around the far west end of campus. Drivers may also get from lot four to lot five by taking the service drive that loops around the east end and back side of campus,” Becsey said.