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County approves MSD wet‑weather projects, including $157 million tunnel tied to Brent Spence work
Summary
The board approved three Metropolitan Sewer District projects: a $6.12 million Lower Mill Creek CSO protection project, consolidation of two HRT projects (no net appropriation), and the Guest Street Tunnel portion of the East Branch Ohio interceptor extension with a requested appropriation of $157,117,696; ODOT will reimburse tunnel costs tied to the Brent Spence Bridge project.
The Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 20 approved three Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) wet‑weather improvement items brought forward by administration.
Item 5 authorizes funding for the Lower Mill Creek high‑water dry‑weather protection project to construct improvements protecting three combined‑sewer‑overflow (CSO) locations; MSD requested $6,120,400 for that project. Item 6 consolidates two projects related to a planned high‑rate treatment (HRT) facility at the Little Miami wastewater treatment plant into a single project ID to improve schedule and cost efficiency; the item carries a $0 net appropriation. Item 7 authorizes appropriation of necessary easements and funding for the Guest Street Tunnel portion of the East Branch Ohio interceptor extension, which MSD requested at $157,117,696 and described as intended to move approximately 120,000,000 gallons of stormwater per year from combined sewers.
Administration noted the Guest Street Tunnel work is being constructed in coordination with the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Brent Spence Bridge project and that ODOT will reimburse MSD for applicable costs. Commissioners praised the ODOT partnership and asked that the county and MSD do a better job explaining to the public which funding “pots” pay for these projects; administration clarified that most MSD projects are financed by ratepayer fees within the sewer district rather than the county general fund.
The board took a motion to approve items 5–7 and recorded affirmative votes to pass the three MSD items.
