Lynchburg, Va., begins work on $400 million Blackwater CSO tunnel to protect waterways
(UI) — Construction has started on the Blackwater CSO Tunnel, the largest capital improvement project in Lynchburg's history. This project, known as LYHBeyond, aims to significantly enhance water quality by preventing wastewater and stormwater from overflowing into local waterways during heavy rain.
The nearly mile-long, 12-foot diameter tunnel will be built 70 to 120 feet below Blackwater Creek. It will have the capacity to collect and store up to 4.7 million gallons of combined wastewater and stormwater. The tunnel will stretch from a new CSO 52 Drop Shaft facility near Hollins Mill Road along the Point of Honor Trail to a downtown pump station being constructed at the bottom of Seventh Street near the Langley Fountain.
Atkinson Construction was awarded the contract for the tunnel and began mobilizing at the Seventh Street site in July. Drill-and-blast excavation will be used later to clear the tunnel’s path, which will cause some construction noise and temporary closures of the Point of Honor Trail.
Lynchburg Water Resources Director Tim Mitchell emphasized the project’s significance, noting that it represents the culmination of over 40 years of work and a $400 million investment to restore water quality in Lynchburg's streams and the James River. The project is expected to take three years to complete.
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