King County contractors are continuing work to fix a break in a sewer pipe that carries wastewater and stormwater to the Magnolia Wet Weather Storage Facility at Smith Cove.
According to an update from the county, crews have finished drilling approximately half the survey holes needed to identify the location of the break, approximately 150 feet below the surface along West Galer Street in Magnolia.
To confirm the exact spot of the fracture, contractors are using a pair of small drill rigs to drill holes about 130 feet deep; filling any areas of soil loss discovered along the pipe with grout.
This work has required traffic detours for a 500-foot stretch of Galer, along with the closure of the eastbound bike lane and the sidewalk during work hours. While both reopen after work is done each day, bicyclists are asked to take extreme caution when passing through the work area.
Workers will start cleaning out the damaged pipe on Jan. 5, which will take place at the storage facility. That work is expected to be finished by the middle of the month. Once finished, the County will release further details about plans to fix the pipe.
When in service, the pipe prevents combined sewer overflows from draining into Puget Sound during larger weather events.
Sewer service is not being affected by the repair work being conducted.
For more information on the Wet Weather Storage Facility, or the current repair work, visit www.kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/wtd/capital-projects/active/south-magnolia-cso-storage.aspx. Contact Doug Marsano at 206-423-0480 or via email at doug.marsano@kingcounty.gov with any questions about the project.