North Interceptor – East Arm Sanitary Sewer

The North Interceptor – East Arm is a large sanitary sewer interceptor, ranging from 17 feet 6 inches to 12 feet in diameter. It conveys sewage flow from the Northeast Sewage Pumping Station at 8 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue to the Detroit Water Resource Recovery Facility at Jefferson Avenue and the Rouge River. Constructed by Detroit in the early 1970s, it has required rehabilitation to ensure longevity. Recent assessments indicated the need for rehabilitation, prompting the use of state-of-the-art lining techniques to protect against the corrosive effects of wastewater. Doing so will provide options for handling emergency conditions downstream during heavy rains.

North Interceptor – East Arm Sanitary Sewer Projects

Outer Drive and Van Dyke Avenue – Completed

This contract began in early February 2021 with the construction of an access work shaft in the median of Outer Drive, east of Van Dyke Avenue. The access shaft was built to connect the interceptor underground to the surface, providing an access point for pipe section to be lowered into the interceptor. This included sewer lining operations from the Northeast Sewage Pumping Station to 1,700 feet downstream; 1,700 feet is roughly equivalent to 6 football fields laid end to end. This project was completed in June 2024.

OMID access shaft on Outer Drive east of Van Dyke.

This photo shows the temporary access shaft on Outer Drive east of Van Dyke. The temporary access shaft allows pipe sections to be lowered into the interceptor and moved to its final position via a pipe carrier.

This photo shows the permanent concrete access structure on Outer Drive east of Van Dyke.

This photo shows construction of the permanent concrete access structure on Outer Drive east of Van Dyke.

7 Mile Road, Van Dyke, and Mack Avenue – Ongoing

Steel reinforcement and formwork being installed in preparation for a wall of concrete to be poured for the control structure.

Phase I of this project is currently under construction at 7 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue. It involves constructing two flow control gate structures to allow the Great Lakes Water Authority to divert flow to the Detroit River Interceptor during dry weather. Flow control is a method by which the flow of water or waste in a sewer or drainpipe is halted, slowed, or diverted to facilitate repairs. Flow control systems are used when repairing sewer and storm water drainage pipes. Phase 1 is scheduled to be complete by the end of the 2024. Traffic control along 7 Mile Road has been removed. The traffic control along Van Dyke will remain until the completion of Phase I. Please note that the construction laydown area southwest of 7 Mile and Van Dyke will remain until completion of Phase II.

Phase II of the project involves spray lining at Mack Avenue and Gratiot Avenue. Spray lining is a technique in which a coating material will be sprayed onto the walls of the pipe using high pressure. The pipe walls are first cleaned and roughened using high-pressure water or sand blasting to allow the lining products to adequately bond to the pipe wall. Once the pipe wall is dry, the coating is then applied. After 24 hours the pipe is cured and ready for flow. This cost-effective process allows us to rehabilitate existing infrastructure while protecting the existing pipe wall from the harmful effects of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is naturally occurring in sewers and is highly corrosive to concrete, iron and steel. This phase is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2025. Lane closures will be utilized along Gratiot to facilitate this work.

Neighborhood Promise

We aim to minimize disruption to your daily life. Here’s how we are ensuring the project's smooth progress for the community:

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Communication

We are committed to sharing project information with community members to foster open communication.

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Air Quality

Contractors will utilize the proper ventilation and odor control equipment to preserve the environment.

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Safety

We strive to maintain a clean and safe work area for our employees, surrounding landscape and community.

Frequently Asked Questions

The rehabilitation work on the North Interceptor East Arm is necessary to extend the lifespan of the aging sewer infrastructure, originally built in the early 1970s. Recent assessments have indicated the need for repairs to protect against wastewater's corrosive effects and to ensure the system can handle emergency conditions during heavy rains.

The rehabilitation of the North Interceptor East Arm will benefit residents by ensuring a more reliable and redundant sewage system, reducing the risk of service disruptions and overflows, particularly during heavy rains.

There may be temporary inconveniences such as localized traffic control and sounds generally associated with construction. However, we will strive to minimize these disruptions and keep residents informed of any changes throughout the project.

The total cost from start to finish is approximately $16 million.

This project is funded by special drain assessments paid by Oakland and Macomb communities that benefit from the Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain. The drainage district sold bonds to cover portions of the project costs, which are repaid through annual payments from these assessments.

In 2009, Oakland County and Macomb County formed the Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain Drainage District, entering into an agreement with the City of Detroit to own, operate, and manage sewer interceptors, pump stations, and appurtenances originally constructed by the city in those counties. This system is collectively referred to as the Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain.

Over the past decade, the district has been focused on rehabilitating this infrastructure. Agreements with the City of Detroit and later the Great Lakes Water Authority have incorporated the Northeast Sewage Pumping Station (NESPS) and the North Interceptor East Arm sewer, which serve the drainage district but are located within Detroit city limits.

Special drain assessments are charges levied on local communities that benefit from the sewer system.

The drainage district is a legal entity responsible for managing and financing the project. It sold bonds to cover the project costs and is repaid through annual installments collected from the local communities.

The project started in February 2021 and is expected to be completed by December 2025.

Email wrc@oakgov.com and your question will be routed to the project team.