Meeting on Lavergne/Lawrence Sewer Work

The city Department of Water Management and Alderman John Arena (45th) will hold a community meeting on Monday, Aug. 11, about a 15-month sewer project on Lavergne Avenue from Lawrence Avenue south to Montrose Avenue. The meeting will be at 6:30 pm at the Copernicus Center Annex, 5214 W. Lawrence Ave.

The project is expected to start next month and last until November of next year, weather permitting. Crews will be tunneling under the Kennedy Expressway to connect to sewers to the south.

According to Arena’s office, Eastbound Lawrence will be closed for part of the project so that crews can dig a shaft about 270 feet down to connect the sewer to a Deep Tunnel feeder tunnel. To dig the shaft, crews will use traditional digging equipment to go about 65 feet down, but once bedrock is hit, crews will use controlled charges to dig the remaining portion of the shaft. Safety precautions are planned.

The work will involve the installation of approximately 2,670 feet of new sewer as part of Mayor Emanuel’s “Building a New Chicago” initiative to maintain and upgrade Chicago’s infrastructure.  After the new sewer has been installed, the area will experience better drainage and reduced flooding during heavy rains, said department spokesman Gary Litherland.