Lakewood Drive/Steilacoom Boulevard Sewer Main

Steilacoom Boulevard in Lakewood reopened for traffic on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Thanks to dry weather conditions this week, crews working on our sewer main repair project were able to apply temporary striping ahead of schedule. Permanent road markings are expected to be installed next month, along with some final utility work.

Thank you to the Lakewood community for their patience and understanding during this emergency construction!

Steilacoom Boulevard is expected to reopen on Friday, Feb. 18, as our sewer main repair project in Lakewood wraps up next week. The contractor working for Pierce County completed the paving work this week and will be placing temporary striping next Thursday. We will provide more details as we get closer to the reopening date. Permanent striping work is expected to take place in March, along with some final utility work. Both temporary and permanent pavement striping work are weather dependent. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding during construction.

Our sewer main repair project on Steilacoom Boulevard in Lakewood is on the home stretch! The contractor working for Pierce County is preparing the road for asphalt pavement and finishing up work for other underground utilities. Meanwhile, crews will be pouring concrete for the sidewalk infrastructure this week. 

In January, the contractor completed the manhole installation and removed the bypass system, which successfully redirected the wastewater flow to the new 120-inch polymer concrete structure and the 36-inch sewer pipe.

Crews are planning to pave the road in the second week of February and install temporary road markings the following week, pending weather conditions. Steilacoom Boulevard is targeted to reopen by the end of the third week of February.

We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding during this project.

Pierce County’s sewer main repair project on Steilacoom Boulevard in Lakewood is taking shape.

Since breaking ground in November, the contractor working for Pierce County has installed two manholes and replaced approximately 480 feet of 36-inch-diameter pipe.

Crews set the larger of the two manholes in December using a mobile crane to lift the 120-inch-diameter manhole structure. With a capacity to handle more than 9 million gallons of wastewater per day, this massive polymer concrete structure will also be fitted with a vortex system that aerates wastewater to minimize odors and corrosion.

Despite work temporarily halting due to inclement weather around the holidays, crews have finished working in the 30-foot-deep trench and have backfilled up to 15 feet to connect the last 20 feet of pipe. Over the next few weeks, they will be finishing up the sewer-related work, which includes installing the manhole infrastructure, removing the bypass system, replacing other underground utilities, and conducting final testing.

Roads are expected to reopen early February, barring any weather events or supply chain issues. Final pavement and striping work will take place afterward as weather permits. Meanwhile, all businesses in the area remain open during construction.

Pierce County’s project to replace the broken sewer main and remove the bypass equipment in Lakewood along Steilacoom Boulevard is expected to begin within the next month. 

The project is designed, and the materials and equipment have been ordered. The estimated arrival time of the materials is taking longer than normal due to supply chain disruptions. 

Construction on Steilacoom Boulevard between Lakewood Drive SW and Gravelly Lake Drive SW is expected to take three months, and drivers can expect road closures during this period. 

We will provide another update as we get closer to breaking ground.

The contractor moved the pump equipment off Steilacoom Boulevard this week. The long-term sewer bypass system is now installed and operating behind the sidewalk along the south side of the road.

The crew will finish up paving and place temporary pavement markings today. All roads and sidewalks on Steilacoom Boulevard are expected to reopen by 2 p.m. on Sept. 3.

In a few weeks, we will be returning to the site to replace the broken sewer main and remove the bypass equipment. The project has been designed, and the construction is being coordinated with the City of Lakewood. 

Start date for the project will depend on availability of materials. The replacement of the sewer main will require another full closure of Steilacoom Boulevard. We will provide more details once we secure all the materials.

We successfully completed the prep work along Lakewood Drive last Friday, Aug. 20 to install the long-term sewer bypass system. The two-week road closure on Steilacoom Boulevard between Lakewood Drive SW and Gravelly Lake Drive SW went into effect this week.

The contractor dug a 15-foot-deep trench to install a new 84-inch-wide manhole. Crews also buried parts of the long-term bypass system, allowing the pumping equipment to be relocated off the roadway along the south side of Steilacoom Boulevard. 

With students returning to school next week, the sidewalk on the north side of the road will be open to pedestrians. Whether you are driving or traveling on foot, please follow the posted signs in the area and travel with caution. 

All roads and sidewalks are scheduled to reopen by 7 a.m. on Sept. 4 upon completed relocation of the pumping system. 

Businesses along Steilacoom Boulevard remain open with access off Bridgeport Way. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Pierce County will install a long-term bypass sewer system on Steilacoom Boulevard, west of Lakewood Drive in Lakewood. The project will move the pump equipment from the middle of Steilacoom Boulevard to the south side of the sidewalk between Gravelly Lake Drive and Lakewood Drive. 

Starting 7 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 20, north and southbound traffic of Lakewood Drive will be restricted to one lane per direction with a left turn lane. The two southbound lanes, south of Steilacoom Boulevard SW, will be closed to allow contractor access to a sewer manhole along Lakewood Drive SW. All lanes on Lakewood Drive are expected to reopen by 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23. Please consult the Lakewood Drive Sewer Repair map or follow the signs posted in the area. 

Starting 7 a.m. Aug. 23, contractors will begin installing a new manhole and moving the bypass system off Steilacoom Boulevard. Traffic on Steilacoom Boulevard between Lakewood Drive SW and Gravelly Lake Drive SW will be fully closed for two weeks. Please consult the Steilacoom Blvd. SW Sewer Repair Detour map or follow the posted detour route to access Steilacoom Boulevard SW between Bridgeport Way and Gravelly Lake Drive. 

All roads and sidewalks are expected to reopen by 7 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, when the temporary sewer bypass relocation is complete. 

Please drive with caution and expect traffic delays throughout the area during the project.