Big dig done: Excavation ends at million-gallon-tank Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project site by Lowman Beach

| Environment | West Seattle news

Not long after we took that photo last week, excavation concluded at the site of the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Project‘s future million-gallon tank. After a reader mentioned seeing a big excavator on a truck heading eastbound, we checked the project’s status today with Doug Marsano from King County Wastewater Treatment. He confirmed the conclusion of the 60-foot-deep excavation, which started two months ago, and said the next big job will be a three-day concrete pour for the 17-foot base on which the tank will rest – no dates set yet, but they hope to get it done before Thanksgiving. It’ll mean:

About 20 trucks an hour will deliver concrete to the site to pour the base. Two concrete pump trucks will be located on the east side of Beach Drive SW to pump the concrete into the hole. Trucks will enter the site from Lincoln Park Way SW and exit using 48th Ave SW. Trucks waiting to pour will park on Fauntleroy Way SW and Lincoln Park Way SW. Flaggers will direct traffic around the site. To maintain local vehicle access, no parking will be available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 7000 block of Beach Dr. S.W. and on Lincoln Park Way from Murray Ave. to Beach Dr. on pour days.

That’s from the official construction update, which you can see here. In case you missed it in our early excavation coverage, here’s how much dirt was removed and where it went.

JayDee November 19, 2014 (5:57 pm)

Maybe it is the little boy left in me, but regardless of the politics, that is one heck of a hole. I guess the tank is built inside the concreted cassions. I am sure the neighbors won’t miss the trucks (nor the truck drivers, the neighborhood–tough driving).

ChefJoe November 19, 2014 (7:56 pm)

They also probably won’t miss the sewage leaking out to the Lowman Beachfront.

Vanessa November 19, 2014 (9:56 pm)

That is one big crapper trapper.

wakeflood November 20, 2014 (11:34 am)

Once this part is in place and given the new pump station at the ferry dock, we’ll never see the “brown fountains” of CSO coming up through the manhole covers again.

During one of those now biannual “50yr. rain events” a few years back, I observed 3 foot tall jets shooting out for quite a while. I’m quite sure the fish felt it too.

Good riddance.

Dawn November 20, 2014 (12:10 pm)

@Vanessa: Best. Comment. Ever. Lol! : )

Community Member November 20, 2014 (3:40 pm)

@wakeflood – Some “fountains” happen long before the water gets to Lowman. A heavy rain + a steep hill will still create fountains of storm water shooting out of the manhole covers at the bottom of the hill, just as heavy rains create turbulent full streams. This upgrade doesn’t change that. This upgrade addresses overflow into Puget Sound that was occasionally happening at the pumping station at Lowman. The tank cannot address overflows that happened upstream from the tank.

Sorry, comment time is over.