What we’re hearing from the South Market neighbourhood

Storm sewer will be repaired using cured-in-place pipe lining

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The city has green-lighted a $3.2-million project to repair sections of the storm sewer system that runs from the intersection of Black Road and McNabb to Boundary and Bennett Boulevard.

"Construction is set to begin in 2024 and finish by the fall," Catherine Taddo, the city's manager of development and environmental engineer, tells SooToday.

"While there will be some lane closures for access, the road will not be completely closed," Taddo says.

Last week, city council awarded a $2.9-million contract for the job to Insituform Technologies Ltd., the lowest of two bidders.

Insituform is based in Edmonton with a regional office in Hamilton.

Its tender was 22.7 per cent above city staff's estimate, which Taddo attributed to higher material costs, limited qualified contractors for the specialized work and challenges and risks involved with the lining of large-diameter sewers.

High bidder was Capital Sewer Services Inc. of Vaughan, Ont., whose bid of $2.96 million was corrected to $3.06 million.

Insituform was the first company to commercialize cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), a trenchless way of making old pipes good as new by installing and curing a resin-containing liner.

"The rehabilitation of storm sewers through techniques like CIPP lining and grouting may impact climate mitigation by minimizing soil disruption, reducing carbon emissions, and improving infrastructure resilience," Taddo said in a report to Mayor Shoemaker and city councillors.

"Additionally, these methods contribute to climate adaption by enhancing stormwater management, lowering flood risk, and promoting the longevity of urban infrastructure."

The South Market project involves repairing 610 metres of 1050- to 1950-millimetre diameter storm sewers by CIPP lining and 460 meters of 1650- to 1800-millimetre diameter storm sewer by grouting.

Insituform will use Hamilton-based Empipe Solutions Ltd. as subcontractor on the sewer grouting and Sault Ste. Marie's Trimount Construction Group for manhole construction and restoration.