A brief reprieve from construction barriers for motorists on South Patrick Drive in Indian Harbour Beach is over. Barricades are up again until at least April for the replacement of a critical sewer line by the Brevard County Utility Services Department.
“A lot of people thought we were done, but that was just phase one, and phase two is a lot more involved,’’ said Project Manager Craig Helpling.
A utility contractor has set pilings on the edges of two canals to install a much-needed new sanitary sewer force main on South Patrick Drive from Banana River Drive to Desoto Parkway. The existing pipe was made of PVC plastic and buried under the canals.
Because the plastic pipes leak at the joints, the existing force main had repeated failures causing direct discharge of raw sewage to Indian River Lagoon, potentially contributing to the recent devastating fish kills in the Banana and Indian rivers.
Because of that, construction has been a regular sight along South Patrick Drive.
“I know the residents of the area are probably aggravated with us because of all the failures we’ve had, but if they will be patient for this project we’ll solve the problems (by using iron rather than plastic pipe) for many years in the future,” Helpling said.
The first phase of the project cost $1.4 million and was completed ahead of schedule Aug. 11. The second phase will cost $2.35 million and is scheduled for completion in April 2018, he said.
The line is the main connection for the entire barrier island from just south of Pineda Causeway all the way down to (the treatment facility) in South Melbourne Beach.