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Mesa staff seek approval to build $14–15 million McKellips Road sewer relief line; construction could start in spring
Summary
City staff told the Council the McKellips Road Sewer Relief Project is designed to relieve an overloaded manhole at McKellips and Gilbert, that a contractor is under negotiated contract, that Maricopa County approval to construct is in hand, and that construction could start in March–April with a roughly 16‑month projected schedule.
Mesa city staff told the City Council during a Jan. 30 study session that a relief sewer for the McKellips and Gilbert intersection is ready to begin construction and will be recommended for formal approval at the Feb. 3 council meeting.
The McKellips Road Sewer Relief Project, budgeted at about $14 million–$14.5 million, will build a new sewer line to relieve capacity at a manhole near McKellips and Gilbert where four lines converge, city staff said. Chris, a city public works staff member, said the city’s flow monitoring and modeling showed the location “was nearing the end of capacity.”
The project moved up the capital-improvement plan after flow monitors installed about two and a half years ago showed surcharging and elevated flows, staff said. Chris said the city has negotiated a price with a contractor and has an approval to construct from Maricopa County Environmental Services that is required for the work.
Why it matters: the manhole at McKellips and Gilbert is already regularly surcharged, staff said, and additional development risks overflowing the system if the relief line is not in place. Chris said, “When I say it’s out of capacity, that’s no exaggeration,” and that the site has a smart manhole with real‑time analytics showing daily surcharge.
City staff described construction sequencing and developer impacts. The city will permit developers to build their projects in parallel with the sewer construction, but developers will not be allowed to connect to the sewer until the relief sewer reaches substantial completion and is functional. Chris said substantial sewer completion — even if ancillary roadway work remains — would be the trigger to allow connections.
Beth, a city public works staff member, told the Council the team will follow sewer work with paving and the decommissioning of some old lines under pavement that were affected in a prior water‑main break at the same intersection. She said staff will hold public outreach, including a neighborhood meeting, postcards and visits with businesses along the alignment.
Timeline and risks: staff said the contractor expects to mobilize and begin work in the March–April time frame after bonds, insurance and contract execution, with a current projection of roughly 16 months for construction. City staff cautioned that underground utilities on a mature street can produce unexpected conditions that could extend the schedule, and said there will be pump‑around work and temporary traffic and driveway impacts during construction.
Council member Adams asked about business access; staff replied they will try to avoid restricting access but could not guarantee there would be no temporary driveway interruptions. Staff urged residents and businesses to use the city’s outreach channels for updates and said a public information campaign is planned.
No formal council vote occurred on Jan. 30; staff said they will seek council approval at the Feb. 3 meeting.
