Major St. Cloud Underground Wastewater Line Needs $29 Million Facelift

(KNSI) — A critical piece of underground infrastructure in St. Cloud needs a $29 million facelift.

The city wants to replace the Metro Forcemain on 33rd Street South near the St. Cloud County Club because, as Public Works Director Tracy Hodel explained to KNSI News, the water main is causing problems. “We’ve had some deterioration. We’ve been doing some inspections, and it is in need of replacement. Those were installed in the 1970s. And we’ve had to do some emergency repairs on that system.”

Hodel says it’s one of the most important pieces keeping the sewage flowing. “Ninety-eight-percent of the flow goes from all the area cities, including St. Cloud, goes through that forcemain system. So it’s very, very critical carrying over 10 million gallons a day of wastewater.”

The project includes replacing a 30-inch and 42-inch main stretching for three miles. She estimates it will take two full construction seasons to replace starting this year.

The St. Cloud City Council approved two contracts for some of the work. HOBAS Pipes will be paid $5.3 million for the materials needed to replace part of the main, while Core and Main LP will be given $329,485 for valve parts.

The rest of the project will be approved at a later date.

___