Archived News Release from 2010

For Immediate Release

Hetch Hetchy Pipeline Seismic Upgrade Construction Work to Begin in Redwood City on May 11
Construction Hotline: 1-800-571-6610

Redwood City, CA - May 4, 2010 - Many Redwood City residents know that our community gets 100% of its water from the Hetch Hetchy pipeline system, with a set of large pipes running mostly underground through the City. The water system is owned and operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), which is in the process of a major seismic upgrade of its entire pipeline system. This includes adding a five-foot diameter welded steel pipe to the entire length of the existing pipeline. The construction to upgrade the Hetch Hetchy water delivery system is getting underway in a number of Bay Area communities – in Redwood City, the work is scheduled to begin on May 11th.

The initial work in Redwood City will take place on the pipeline segment located near Avenida del Ora and South Place, and then move west toward Cordilleras Road. The work in this area is expected to last up to four-to-six weeks. In this and most other areas, the work will be performed by trenching near the existing pipeline in the SFPUC right-of-way, installing and welding the new pipeline, and back-filling the trench. Where it crosses surface streets, this will require the closure of at least one lane of traffic, with appropriate traffic controls in place. At times, the temporary complete closure of a street may need to take place. Local residents in the vicinity of each segment of construction are being notified directly by the SFPUC.

There will be impacts during this construction including lane closures, street closures, dust and dirt, noise, and heavy equipment in the vicinity of homes that are near the SFPUC right-of-way. The SFPUC has a 24-hour hotline for questions and concerns about the construction, 1-800-571-6610, and also has a project web page at www.sfwater.org/penpl where up-to-date construction information is posted. Redwood City also has a project information page located at www.redwoodcity.org/pipeline.

The SFPUC Water System Improvement Program is a $4.6 billion bond-funded program to seismically upgrade and repair the regional water system’s aging pipelines, tunnels, and dams. The Peninsula segment is a 9-mile, 5-foot diameter welded steel pipeline seismically designed to withstand an earthquake, and will allow the SFPUC to take existing, older pipelines out of service for maintenance and repair. About 2.5 miles of the pipeline is within Redwood City.

Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, and local business. Subscribe to Redwood City’s email newsletter and other City documents by visiting www.redwoodcity.org/egov.

###

Contacts:
Paul Willis, Senior Civil Engineer
Redwood City
650-780-7219

Christina Kerby, San Francisco         
Public Utilities Commission
415-412-5744
Construction Hotline: 1-800-571-6610