Sewer problems persist downtown

Sewer problems persist downtown

YOUNGSTOWN —¬†It will be a few more weeks before the city reopens a downtown street, closed because an old brick sewer line collapsed.

The 110-year-old, 36-inch sanitary and storm sewer line along South Phelps Street has been nothing but a headache for the city for months.

The line between West Federal and West Boardman streets, next to city hall, collapsed in late October 2007.

The collapse was noticed when sanitary and storm water started backing up on to the street.

Because the line is so old all the mortar on the bricks deteriorated causing a larger crack when crews repaired the initial break by West Federal Street, said Charles Shasho, the city public works department’s deputy director.

It took about a month and about $170,000 to replace the 36-inch brick line with a 30-inch plastic line, he said.

During that time, that portion of South Phelps was closed as well as a small portion of West Federal, which forced vehicles on the latter street to go around the work area.

But the problems with the line weren’t over.