What's Happening in Lansing, MI…

The City of Lansing has begun installing new sewer lines that run under the Red Cedar River.

According to a June 4th article, the project will cost $3.3 million and should be completed by October. The work is being done to alleviate problems with sewage backups that have been plaguing the southeastern areas of the city, particularly with the long, hard winter just past.

Recently, crews have been working to install larger sewer pipes under the river in order to carry sewage to the Lansing Wastewater Treatment Plant. Lansing's assistant city engineer, Alec Malvetis, said the project is the first step in an effort to enlarge pipes under both the Grand and Red Cedar rivers, so that sewage bottlenecks are reduced. Nearly 500 Lansing residents sought compensation from Lansing for damage done by sewage backups.

The project will help with that. In July, crews will wall off half the Red Cedar River, using steel sheets. They will then dry out half of the riverbed to the east of Cedar, which will allow them to lay piping beneath it. Once one side is done, they'll wall off and dry out the other side, and lay pipe there as well.

Lansing officials might work with a flyer printing company to create a mailer for the city's residents, explaining the project, the work schedule as projected, and the completion date.