Lynchburg officials tour Blackwater sewer tunnel with 550 feet left to excavate
(UI) — Construction crews working on Lynchburg, Virginia’s Blackwater Combined Sewer Overflow Tunnel are closing in on a major milestone as excavation work enters its final stretch, according to reporting by the Roanoke Times.
City officials, project partners and elected leaders recently toured the underground project, descending roughly 80 feet below downtown Lynchburg to view progress firsthand. The tunnel, being excavated through solid rock beneath Blackwater Creek, is part of the city’s long-running effort to reduce sewer overflows into nearby streams and the James River.
Contractors have completed most of the 4,700-foot tunnel and expect to finish excavation later this summer. Once drilling and blasting operations conclude, crews will begin lining the tunnel with concrete as work shifts into the next phase of construction.
The nearly $104 million project represents the largest capital improvement investment in Lynchburg’s history. When complete, it will serve as the final major component of a decades-long sewer improvement program that has cost the city roughly $450 million. According to the city, the combined improvements are expected to reduce annual combined sewer overflow volumes by approximately 98%.
As reported by the Roanoke Times, the tunnel is scheduled for completion in 2027. The project is designed to capture excess wastewater and stormwater during heavy rain events, helping prevent untreated discharges from entering local waterways and improving long-term environmental compliance.
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