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Town staff report deteriorating small sewer/main under Route 7; options limited and costs unclear
Summary
Public works staff reported video showing a narrow, deteriorating pipe under Route 7 in the South End, discussed contractors' limits, potential solutions and next steps, and noted outreach to VTrans may be needed for any major work.
Town public works staff reported at the Jan. 14 select board meeting that a camera inspection of a sewer/water main in the South End shows a small, deteriorated pipe under Route 7 that is restricting flow and may be undersized for nearby permitted uses.
Staff said the pipe appears to be cast iron and substantially deteriorated in places. Contractors contacted by staff told the town the main is smaller than they typically handle and some jetting equipment could get stuck. One named contractor, Canyon Pipeline Services, told staff it could not confidently perform a repair with its usual high‑pressure jet equipment because the pipe section is too small. Staff said the town had recorded video of the obstruction and that the site is roughly under a northbound lane on Route 7.
The town discussed potential approaches, including high‑pressure cleaning, epoxy lining or installing a larger parallel line. Staff said the location and depth of the main (about 9 feet deep in places) and the absence of an easy bypass point complicate short-term fixes. A municipal invoice for preparatory digging from a contractor (Belden) was presented to the board at roughly $40,499.93 (invoice detail read aloud from meeting packet). Staff said the car wash nearby has a permit for approximately 8,800 gallons per day and that the small main likely cannot handle that future volume without a larger replacement.
Board members and staff discussed seeking assistance from VTrans early because any open-cut work in the Route 7 right-of-way could take months to approve and would be best scheduled for summer construction. Staff said they were assembling a list of contractors and would continue outreach; they planned to consult with Robert Clark and to request more specialized advice on lining versus replacement. No formal action or vote was taken; staff said they would report back as proposals and contractor assessments arrive.
The board asked staff to continue outreach, provide options with cost estimates as they become available, and begin conversations with VTrans if a plan involves open‑cut roadwork.
