Drilling, excavation to begin for four-mile, $133 million sewer tunnel in Charleston, S.C.
The Charleston Water System is initiating the final phase of a significant underground tunnel project aimed at connecting sewage pipes in rural areas of the county to the Plum Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, Live 5 News reported. The West Ashley Sewer Tunnel will extend four miles through West Ashley, linking the towns of Hollywood, Ravenel, and Meggett. This six-phase project, which commenced in 1999, is designed to replace the deteriorating tunnels built in the 1960s.
Key features of the tunnel include its depth and capacity, measuring 130 feet below ground and approximately eight feet wide. It is anticipated that this infrastructure will significantly reduce sewage overflows that typically occur during heavy rainfall.
Mike Saia, an administrator with the Charleston Water System, explained to Live 5 News that the community of West Ashley faces challenges with sewer overflow during heavy rainfall. He expressed optimism for the project, stating that the new tunnel will be better structurally equipped to hold up during severe weather.
With a total budget of $133 million, this project represents the most expensive infrastructure undertaking in the history of the Charleston Water System. Notably, $10 million of this funding has been secured through the South Carolina Infrastructure Improvement Program.
During the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, project officials introduced Miss Harper, the drilling machine designated for the task. A construction team will deploy a crane to lower Miss Harper into a pre-dug shaft, reaching a depth of 130 feet. The machine is expected to spend the next two to three years completing the tunnel
Stephen O’Connell, a project manager with Black and Veatch, indicated that Miss Harper is expected to dig around 80 to 100 feet per day, acknowledging that the work environment will pose challenges for the team due to the confined space and hot temperatures underground. “The work will require careful coordination and effort,” O'Connell said.
The completion of the project is expected in the fourth quarter of 2027.
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