Project summary: Building on the work of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) proposed a $40 million project to manage stormwater runoff in the 4 Mile Run watershed. 4 Mile Run is currently culverted between the bottom of Neville Street and the Monongahela River. The watershed for this stream includes most of Pitt’s campus and much of Squirrel Hill.
The proposal included extensive modifications to Panther Hollow Lake and the daylighting of 4 Mile Run between the lake and Greenfield.
As of 2022 PWSA has placed the green infrastructure components of this project on indefinite hold. It is currently completing design on a new pipeline to help alleviate flooding and basement backups in The Run.
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Timeline
PWSA hosted a community meeting on December 9, 2019, to update the project’s progress since the June 2019 public meeting. The presentation from the December meeting is posted online here.
Since the December meeting, PWSA updated the model to incorporate additional factors to determine what size storm would cause the pipe network to surcharge. Early action projects located along Overlook Drive and the Bridle Trail have been completed. Construction is now anticipated to begin in late spring of 2021, dependent on approved permits.
PWSA presented an update on the project via Zoom on March 30, 2021. The first part of the project will restore a 50” pipe that collects water flowing to the Monongahela River. Later work includes replacing large water and sewer lines and the addition of new storm sewer lines. PWSA also plans to dredge and update Panther Hollow Lake to serve act as a stormwater collection point. The project is expected to last until late 2023.
PWSA presented updates to the project at a virtual public meeting on October 19, 2021. Construction for M29 outfall improvements should end by November 2021. As part of the Stormwater improvements, People’s Gas has replaced gas mains on Saline St., Alexis St., Boundary St., and Four Mile Run Road. Phase 1 of the construction is expected to begin in mid-2022.
PWSA will relocate the water main to a location that will ensure long-term operation and maintenance access and avoid conflicts with the new stormwater pipes in the run. Upon permit approval, construction will begin in Spring 2022/early 2023.
Per the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)’s request for an updated model that would demonstrate the effectiveness of the separated stormwater pipe by measuring flow of stormwater only at different storm intervals, PWSA plans to submit their response to the DEP by December 29, 2021. They will make this publicly available thereafter, format TBD.
See all project details and updates here: 4mr.org
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