Malletts Bay Sewer
Welcome to the project information page for the Malletts Bay Sewer Project. This project is an environmental abatement project that will provide municipal sewer service to properties with frontage on West Lakeshore Drive between Prim Rd and the Bayside intersection, all of East Lakeshore Drive, and Goodsell Point.
*November 14, 2024 Malletts Bay Sewer Update – Traffic Delay Warning
*November 14, 2024 Malletts Bay Sewer Update – Traffic Delay Warning
This update is offered to provide notice of significant traffic delays as the Malletts Bay Sewer Project moves towards winter shutdown and the conclusion of the vast majority of work along West Lakeshore Drive. Between November 14th through December 3rd during weekdays, there will be alternating traffic on West Lakeshore Drive while the contractor repaves the sewer laterals, mills the pavement, and repaves the entire lane width of the north (lake) side of West Lakeshore Drive.
The milling and paving operation will require alternating one-way traffic on West Lakeshore Drive during milling and paving activities. Motorists should anticipate significant delays during the period this work is underway.
We understand this can be challenging when predicting how much additional time is needed in your travel time through the project corridor. We understand it impacts your time and arrival to your respective destinations. We apologize for this inconvenience, and we are doing our best to limit that impact.
We would ask the driving public to: a) Seek alternate routes where possible; b) Anticipate the delays this coming week will be more extreme than previous weeks; and c) please adjust your schedule the best you can for the anticipated delays.
This is the last push to close out the construction season. We appreciate your continued patience.
For a more detailed update on the project’s status, public information and purpose, see below and click the 'Malletts Bay Sewer Construction Updates" folder.
Information is provided below regarding traffic control planning, the project schedule, and a map of the areas to be connected to municipal sewer. Additional project details can be found in the "FAQ" links below. This information will be updated frequently as construction progresses, and you can sign up to receive updates about the project here.
If you have questions about this project that are not answered here, please contact Public Works Director Norm Baldwin at MBS@colchestervt.gov or 802-264-5620.
The Town held a series of informational meetings in May of 2024 regarding the project. Presentation slides and recordings are available below:
Traffic Control
Construction is underway, with West Lakeshore Drive project crews performing work between The Moorings Marina at 332 West Lakeshore Drive and the Blakely/Lakeshore intersection as of mid-September 2024. Construction on Blakely Road is currently located around Edgewood Drive as of September 2024. *Night work begins 9/16 on West Lakeshore Drive, and will be in addition to day work.*
There are a number of things that the Town cannot control throughout this construction project, including the available space within the roadway to perform this work, and the number of vehicles traveling through Malletts Bay. If you cannot take an alternate route, please be prepared for delays on both roadways. We have been working hard to minimize delays to the traveling public. As construction has progressed, there have been a number of improvements in managing traffic through both work areas, including:
There are a number of things that the Town cannot control throughout this construction project, including the available space within the roadway to perform this work, and the number of vehicles traveling through Malletts Bay. If you cannot take an alternate route, please be prepared for delays on both roadways. We have been working hard to minimize delays to the traveling public. As construction has progressed, there have been a number of improvements in managing traffic through both work areas, including:
- Variable message boards and signage placed warning approaching traffic of the work areas, in locations where motorists still have time to take an alternate route where available.
- Developed detailed traffic control plans using a professionally licensed traffic engineer that identify the appropriate signage, lane configurations, flagger and uniform traffic control officer requirements, and site coordination required to be in place during work.
- Developed a traffic management plan to limit the amount of time the contractors can work within the open travel lane (on WLSD), balancing the need to minimize delays with the contractor's ability to complete the work.
- Installing signage and pavement markings to remind drivers not to block side streets or driveways. This reduces delays caused by vehicles trying to turn into these entrances who must stop and wait to be let in.
- Monitoring of intersections (WLSD/Prim, Blakely/Lakeshore) to initiate corrective measures as needed to prevent traffic from backing up to the intersections, up to and including halting work until traffic can be cleared.
- Installation of signs indicating that local businesses are open and ready to serve their customers.
- Coordination with Colchester School District bus service, postal routes and trash haulers.
- Establishing radio connections and a communication protocol for construction crews and emergency vehicles in order to facilitate emergency responders moving through each site.
- Requiring the work most disruptive to traffic flows be completed at night (installation of service connections that require excavation across both lanes of traffic).
- Setting up a single point of contact (project email: MBS@colchestervt.gov) to make it easy for the public to communicate with the project team.
Work on Blakely Road will require occasional one lane closures, but is generally limited to the roadway shoulder. Work hours for Blakely Road are Mon-Fri, from 7a.m. - 5p.m. Work on West Lakeshore Drive will involve alternative one lane traffic during work hours, which are Mon-Fri from 6a.m. to 4p.m. Overnight work on West Lakeshore will begin 9/16, take place from 8p.m. to 6a.m., and continue in addition to day work.
East Lakeshore Drive - Crews are not expected to begin work on East Lakeshore Drive until late September.
- Two lane road closures will be allowed during standard working hours, with a temporary detour established on Williams Road.
- Access to private driveways will be maintained at all times from at least one end of the project area or the other.
- The roadway will be re-opened to at least one-way traffic at the end of each work day, controlled by a temporary portable traffic control signal or some other approved method.
Project Schedule & Phasing
From May 2024 to August 2025, Phase I of project construction will be occurring on Blakely Road, West Lakeshore Drive from Prim Road to the Bayside intersection, and East Lakeshore Drive from the Bayside intersection to just beyond South Bay Circle. Phases II and III, involving additional work along East and West Lakeshore Drives and Goodsell Point, will take place between 2025 to 2027. A brief overview of the work planned for this first phase is below.
Phase I involves construction work within or along the following roadways, associated with:
- Installation of the main sewer collection line located along West Lakeshore Drive, from Prim Rd to the Bayside Intersection,
- Installation of the main sewer collection line located along East Lakeshore Drive from the Bayside intersection to South Bay Circle,
- Installation of the no-access transmission line along all of Blakely Road that will connect these new collection lines to the existing town sewer system in the Severance Corners area, and
- Installation of two wastewater pump stations outside of the roadway, one on West Lakeshore Drive and one on Blakely Rd.
Phases II and III will involve:
- Extension of the main collection line to the rest of East Lakeshore Drive, service connections for properties on East and West Lakeshore Drive to the new sewer system, and decommissioning of those sites’ on-site septic systems will take place in Phase II. This work is tentatively scheduled for the 2025-2026 timeframe. Goodsell Point will be connected to this new system as part of Phase III, which is expected to be in the 2026-2027 timeframe.
FAQs
What is the Malletts Bay Sewer Project?
A pollution abatement project approved by Colchester voters in March 2022, to address failing septic systems and human waste bacteria in Malletts Bay. The project involves extending municipal sewer service to properties with frontage along West Lakeshore Drive from Prim Rd to the Bayside Intersection, all of East Lakeshore Drive, and Goodsell Point.
Where will the wastewater be treated?
The wastewater will be pumped to Severance Corners via Blakely Road and connected into the Town’s existing sewer system, which flows to the City of South Burlington’s Airport Parkway Wastewater Treatment Facility where it is treated under an existing agreement with the City.
How will the project be funded?
Approximately 68% of the project will be funded by grants. The remaining portion will be funded by a 30-year, 2% loan from the State of Vermont. The loan will be repaid only by the 289 properties located within the sewer service area. Properties outside of the sewer service area will pay nothing for this project. No property taxes or local option taxes will be used for this project.
Is my property located in the new sewer service area?
Properties included in the new sewer service area are those properties that have roadway frontage on either side of West Lakeshore Drive from Prim Road to East Lakeshore Drive, all of East Lakeshore Drive, and Goodsell Point. Please click here for a map of the sewer service area.
Will properties within the sewer service area be required to connect to the sewer system?
Yes. All of the Town’s current wastewater service areas are governed by ordinances that require all properties to connect to the municipal sewer once constructed.
How much will the initial connection fees be for properties connected to the sewer system?
All current developed properties within the proposed service area will be connected to the system at no charge. The connection, decommissioning of existing septic systems, and the amendments of individual wastewater permits will all be completed as part of the overall project. Once completed, the individual service laterals, including individual pump stations where needed, will be the responsibility of the property owner.
What will the estimated cost be for a residential property within the proposed sewer service area?
Charges to property owners for use of the sewer system will not begin until the properties are connected to the new system. The earliest possible date for portions of the new sewer system to be operational is expected to be in the late summer of 2026. The property owners along West Lakeshore Drive will be the first property owners to be connected to the new system. Property owners along East Lakeshore Drive and Goodsell Point are expected to be connected in the 2026-2027 time frame. At this time, our best estimate of what these charges will be approximately two years from now is approximately $100 per month, or about $1,200 per year per household which includes operating and debt charges. These charges may vary based upon actual total project costs at the end of construction in 2027, future wastewater treatment rate increases from the City of South Burlington, future increases in maintenance costs, and increases in available project funding from ongoing efforts to secure additional grant funds for the project. Your cost may also vary depending upon individual water consumption habits.
Operating charges pay for the daily operation and maintenance of the sewer system. They are based on individual water usage since this water is ultimately discharged to the sewer system, and represents how much each property uses the sewer system.
Debt charges pay for the loans taken to help construct the sewer system. They are based on the amount of sewer capacity that is needed for each property. The required capacity for each property is based on the State of Vermont Environmental Protection Rules, Chapter 1, Wastewater System and Water Supply Rules.
Many of the properties within the sewer service area are significantly lower than the roadway, how will these properties be connected?
Many of the properties will require individual pump stations to pump the wastewater to the sewer line in the roadway. This will include those properties on West Lakeshore Drive that are lower than the roadway, (generally the lake side of the roadway) and also, all of the properties on East Lakeshore Drive and Goodsell Point where low-pressure sewers will be used. Because these sewer lines are pressurized, individual properties must pump into them regardless of elevation. Low pressure sewers were chosen for these areas as they can be installed at much shallower depths and do not require large pump stations. These factors are important considering traffic impacts during construction, limited working space, and ledge. Once the project is completed, the individual service lateral, including individual pumps will be the responsibility of the property owner. The pumps are a pre-packaged unit that are approximately 4 feet in diameter, and about 7 ½ feet high. They have adequate emergency storage in the event of a power outage, and operate quietly and efficiently, without odor. The units will be located outside of the houses and below ground surface. They will have an at grade cover on them and will look similar to a septic tank cover. One example of these types of stations can be found here.
What is the overall construction schedule for this project?
Construction will be spread out over multiple years.
2024 to 2025 – The main sewer collection line will be constructed on West Lakeshore Drive from Prim Road to the Bayside Intersection, and along East Lakeshore Drive from the Bayside Intersection to just beyond South Bay Circle. A no-access transmission line to connect the new service area to the existing Town system at Severance Corners will also be constructed along the entire length of Blakely Road. Finally, two pump stations will be installed on West Lakeshore Drive and Blakely Road.
2025-2026 – The sewer collection line will be extended along the entire length of East Lakeshore Drive, and all of the properties with frontage along East and West Lakeshore Drives will have their service connections to the new line installed. Existing on-site septic systems serving those properties will be decommissioned at that time.
2026-2027 – Main line sewers and individual service laterals will be constructed on Goodsell Point.
What is the current overall status of the project?
Phase I construction is currently underway with the installation of gravity sewer lines along West Lakeshore Drive, and the high-pressure force main along Blakely Road. The remaining portions of the project are currently in final design.
How can I get additional information about the project?
Please contact Public Works Director Norm Baldwin at MBS@colchestervt.gov or 802-264-5620.