Construction of the proposed sanitary sewer replacement of the Boltini/Hyatt Place Alley sanitary sewer closed Neil Street between Church and Park on Monday, July 23. Excavation in Neil Street for manhole installation encountered a larger than expected electrical vault that the existing downstream sanitary sewer curled around with multiple elbows. Concrete encasement of the existing sanitary sewer further complicated the situation in the 11-foot-deep excavation.
The sanitary sewer replacement plan has been modified to work with the underground space availability and replace the existing elbowed sanitary sewer. This work approximately doubled the excavation extent and pavement replacement needs, and will require an additional manhole.
The Neil Street closure will extend into the week of July 30. A news release is planned for Thursday afternoon to update construction status and the closure schedule. Meanwhile, downtown businesses remain open. Construction will stop Friday afternoon for the 6 p.m. “Friday Night Live Champaign”. See details at https://www.facebook.com/FNLChampaign
Neil Street Electrical Vault looking south.
Another unknown utility, determined to be inactive.