Phase 3A-2 project includes work under Tracy’s most well-traveled thoroughfare
By Per Peterson
This year’s infrastructure work in Tracy has so far proven to be a bit more noticeable to everyone — not just Tracy residents, but even to people just passing through town.
The roughly $5.7 million Phase 3A-2 project, which began a couple of weeks ago, currently impacts an area on Hwy. 14 — more specifically, the intersection of the highway with 5th St. at the site of the tornado memorial.
“The contractor (R&G Construction) is off to a good start, working on what they would call maybe the toughest area of the project — working around the highway,” said Kyle Renneke, engineer with ISG, the company in charge of the multi-phase project.
The crew has been working on installing sanitary sewer under the highway, replacing an old clay line. A new PVC sanitary sewer main has been installed under the highway and connections have been made on both the north and south sides. The old line ran diagonally, and this one will run perpendicular to the east-west highway.
“Typically, you want to take the shortest path across a highway like that,” Renneke said. “Fortunately, we have enough grade, or drop, in elevation in the line that we’re able to do that here, so we’re able to shorten the amount of pipe under the highway.
Renneke said the material itself under the highway will be a significant upgrade, compared to the old clay lines.
“Those can get sags in it; there are a lot of joints in it, and that type of pipe can crack easier,” he said. “Roots can grow into it. There’s a lot of clay sanitary sewer piping that’s being replaced in the project in general.”
Renneke said new pipes will help with reoccurring inflow and infiltration problems, which under a best-case scenario means the City will ultimately be treating less stormwater and/or groundwater in its treatment plant.
“We’re also looking at improving some of the watermain routing, so there’s some benefits there … for emergency protection, adding hydrants and improving water flows to those,” Renneke said.
See this week’s Headlight Herald for more on this article.