On January 17th, the Lorain City Council approved a $20,732,954 contract with Walsh/Super Excavators JV for the Black River Conveyance & Storage Tunnel. This infrastructure improvement program was designed to eliminate sanitary overflows to the Black River and to relocate the existing Black River Wastewater Treatment Plant. Walsh/Super Excavators will be constructing approximately 5,500 lineal feet of 23-ft diameter rib and bored, two-pass, TBM Rock Tunnel. The final tunnel will be a 19-ft ID storage tunnel that extends approximately 120 feet below ground and along the bank of the Black River. The TBM will be launched from a 42-ft ID, 175-ft deep shaft which will serve as home to the future Pump Station. The machine will be retrieved from a 30-ft ID, 115-ft deep shaft.
Notice to Proceed for the Black River Tunnel was issued in August 6, 2012. The 175-ft launching shaft is currently under construction, and the project team is working hard to submit all of the required technical submittals in preparation for tunneling. The project is scheduled for completion in the Spring of 2015.