Sewer repair causes inconvenience

March 10, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Mayor John A. McNally is urging motorists to be patient and careful as an emergency sewer repair continues at Canfield Road and Schenley Avenue in front of St. Christine Church.

“People need to drive slowly and pay attention to the workers and the equipment,” the mayor said, adding he hopes the project can be completed by the end of next week, weather permitting.

Motorists bound for St. Christine Church should go south on Schenley Avenue from Kirk Road, the mayor said. Schenley is closed in both directions at Canfield Road.

One lane of traffic in each direction is being maintained for Canfield Road motorists.

The 15-inch clay and plastic combined storm and sanitary sewer, buried 25 feet below the sidewalk on the north side of Canfield Road, is crushed and broken in two places, the mayor said.

Sections of the pipe were installed in 1938 and 1940, respectively, the mayor said.

How much pipe needs to be replaced can’t be determined until the area is excavated, he said.

The pipe has been repaired several times, most recently in the early 1980s, he added.

Charles Shasho, deputy director of public works, estimated the repair cost at $120,000. He said the breakage likely is due to the age and depth of the pipe.

Customers haven’t reported any sewer-related problems, but the collapse of the ground beneath the sidewalk in front of the church alerted city officials to the sewer collapse, the mayor said.

The broken section of sewer is being bypassed by above-ground hoses and pumps.

The work, which began Tuesday, is being done by Utility Contracting Inc. of Youngstown.