Cleveland clears park easements for $324m Big Creek storage tunnel

Cleveland clears park easements for $324m Big Creek storage tunnelThe Utilities Committee approved amended legislation granting NEORSD access at Emery and Estabrook parks for the final tunnel in its Project Clean Lake programme. The measure dedicates $726,800 in easement proceeds and cash for improvements at the two parks and adds a requirement concerning temporary power poles.

The Big Creek Storage Tunnel will be more than four miles long, 20ft in diameter and constructed 50-100ft below ground; it is intended to capture flows from 11 combined-sewer outfalls.

NEORSD said the tunnel would reduce combined-sewer-overflow discharges to Big Creek and its tributaries by 550 million gallons a year upon completion.

The approved amendments dedicate $220,400 in Emery Park easement proceeds and $56,400 at Estabrook Park to improvements, while NEORSD will provide a further $450,000 for Emery Park improvements.

NEORSD must seek CEI approval to remove or replace specified power poles along West 130th at its own cost after the projects are complete, with work due by December 31, 2032.

Cleveland's Utilities Committee has approved easements at Emery Park and Estabrook Park for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's Big Creek Storage Tunnel, adding provisions that earmark payments for park improvements and address temporary construction power infrastructure. Ordinance 688-2026 authorises the city's parks director to grant NEORSD three permanent surface easements, four subterranean easements and three temporary easements. The rights are needed for construction and future maintenance of the Big Creek tunnel, which NEORSD programme manager Doug Lapata said carries a $324 million project cost. The tunnel is the seventh and final combined-sewer-overflow storage tunnel in NEORSD's Project Clean Lake programme. The district described the wider programme as a $3 billion, 24-year initiative to reduce combined sewer overflows to Lake Erie and other waterways in Greater Cleveland. NEORSD said the programme is about three-quarters complete and remains on track, with the Big Creek project potentially allowing completion about two years ahead of the required schedule if underground conditions do not create delays. At more than four miles in length, the Big Creek tunnel will be 20ft in diameter and built in rock 50ft to 100ft below the surface across Cleveland, Brooklyn and Lindale. It will capture combined sanitary and stormwater flows from 11 outfalls. NEORSD said this would reduce annual CSO discharges to Big Creek and its tributaries by 550 million gallons. Across Project Clean Lake, the district said annual overflow volumes are to fall from 4.5 billion gallons to 150 million gallons. The amended ordinance allocates $220,400 from the non-exclusive easement interest at Emery Park exclusively to improvements there. NEORSD has also agreed to provide a $450,000 cash gift for improvements at that park, bringing the stated combined value of the Emery easement and cash contribution to $670,400. A further $56,400 in easement proceeds is to be used solely for improvements at Estabrook Park. Construction at Emery Park will be concentrated at its north end, where the tunnel will run 70ft below ground. The district said operations would not be affected apart from contractor occupation of sections of park green space, with acoustical fencing planned around the work area. At Estabrook, NEORSD will construct a shaft at the park's northwest corner, 50ft below ground. The work will require a temporary rerouting of the path to the playground and ball field. NEORSD said trees planted along Fulton at Estabrook in 2024 would be relocated and that it would plant additional trees after its work area is restored. The district said it would maintain the relocated trees for an establishment period. Committee members also adopted an amendment covering power supply work along West 130th. It requires NEORSD to seek CEI approval to remove or replace existing poles carrying large power lines and poles used for temporary tunnelling-equipment power after completion of the district's projects, at NEORSD's cost and no later than December 31, 2032. NEORSD said it plans to install nine replacement poles and 17 temporary poles, with none of the 17 temporary poles remaining once the work is complete. The committee chair stressed that Big Creek is not a City of Cleveland water or water-pollution-control project. NEORSD said the project is funded through the ratepayer system serving its 63 communities, although Cleveland residents are among those ratepayers. The committee approved Ordinance 688-2026 as amended.