St. Louis approves $15.5M in supplemental funds for emergency sewer repair and wet weather storage

St. Louis approves $15.5M in supplemental funds for emergency sewer repair and wet weather storageUnforeseen site conditions, including a complex excavation under Interstate 44 and redundant power requirements, have driven up costs for two critical Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District projects.

The Board of Trustees approved a $4 million supplemental appropriation for an emergency repair of a 12-foot combined brick sewer that collapsed following a 20-inch water main break.

The emergency repair at North Broadway and Biddle Street now totals $9 million due to constrained excavation clearances beneath I-44 requiring a specialized shoring system.

The board also advanced an $11.5 million supplemental construction appropriation for the Eltora Wet Weather Storage Facility, bringing the total construction appropriation to $26.5 million.

Cost increases for the Eltora facility were attributed to redundant power supply requirements, adjacent creek stabilization, and mandated road work.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) Board of Trustees has authorized substantial supplemental funding to address unforeseen engineering and site challenges across two major wastewater infrastructure projects. During the September 10 meeting, the board adopted an ordinance appropriating an additional $4 million from the General Fund for an emergency combined sewer repair at the intersection of North Broadway and Biddle Street. The project was initiated after a 20-inch water main break caused the collapse of approximately 60 to 100 feet of a 12-foot combined brick sewer. The emergency repair, contracted to Bates Utility Company, Inc., was originally appropriated $5 million. However, staff noted that constrained excavation conditions and limited clearance beneath Interstate 44—specifically between two interstate bridge supports—necessitated a uniquely engineered shoring system. The specialized shoring requirements were not known at the time of the initial collapse, driving the total project appropriation to $9 million. The district noted it plans to seek reimbursement for the incident, which is currently undergoing a forensic engineering review. In addition to the emergency repair, the board introduced supplemental appropriations totaling $13 million for the Eltora Wet Weather Storage Facility, a consent decree-mandated project in the City of Pagedale. The board advanced an $11.5 million supplemental construction appropriation for design-builder Goodwin Brothers Construction Co., raising the total construction appropriation to $26.5 million. According to the staff report, the cost increase was driven by requirements for an Ameren redundant power supply that exceeded initial estimates, necessary creek stabilization work adjacent to the three-million-gallon underground storage tank, and additional road work required by St. Louis County. A related $1.5 million supplemental appropriation was also introduced to amend a contract with KAI 360 Construction Services, LLC for Owner's Representative and construction management services during the facility's design and construction phases. Both Eltora appropriations are expected to be funded by bond proceeds through the Sanitary Replacement Fund.