Public Works and Environmental Services

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703-324-5800 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Parkway
Suite 449 Fairfax, VA 22035
Carey Needham
Director, Capital Facilities

Pohick Interceptor Rehabilitation Phase 1

Project Number; WW-000028-013

Project Update: March 5, 2025

Pleasants Construction has been selected to complete the Pohick Interceptor Rehabilitation Phase 1 Project. They will be onsite staging equipment starting the first week of March with the trail closure to begin on March 17th, 2025. For details on the trail closure location and future rerouting see trail map under What To Expect.


Project Background

This project is for the renewal and rehabilitation of 6,500 linear feet of 30-inch to 54-inch critical large diameter sanitary sewer pipe and associated manhole structures located in the Mount Vernon and Springfield Districts of Fairfax County. The renewal method was selected as trenchless rehabilitation using the CIPP method. CIPP is commonly used in similar applications due to its cost-effectiveness, schedule benefits and limited impact to residents and environment.

According to the National Association of Sewer Service Companies, “Hundreds of millions of feet of CIPP are in service throughout the world today, and it is considered the most widely accepted pipeline rehabilitation technology worldwide.” The project will follow all applicable industry standards, including ASTM F126, Standard Practice for rehabilitation of Existing Pipeline and Conduits by the Inversion and Curing of a Resin-Impregnated Tube as well as safety standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Project Location

Map: Pohick Rehab project
Southern Portion of Cross County trail beginning at the trailhead of Wadebrook Terrace

 

Project Phase

The project is in the final stages of the design phase and will be advertised for bid Spring 2024.

Project Benefits

The rehabilitation of the Pohick interceptor will:

  • Proactively renew the asset for the next 50 years
  • Prevent potential costly emergency repairs
  • Reduce risks to public health and the environment
  • Enhance the quality of life for Fairfax County Residents
  • Provide residents with safe, reliable utility infrastructure

Timeline

Phase Anticipated End Date
Design Spring 2024
Construction Spring 2025-Winter 2026
expect

What to Expect

In the design phase, residents and trail goers might see Fairfax County Staff and their representative contractors completing non-invasive survey of the surrounding trail and trees, or completing site walks.

During the construction phase, trail access will be limited or rerouted. There will be an initial 3-month closure of the cross-county trail for the extent of the project area starting on March 17, 2025. Once the work at the northern end of the project area is complete, the Cross-county trail will be reopened with the detour along Pohick Road. This detour will be in effect for a 12–15-month duration while the remaining rehabilitation is completed on this segment of the project. Trail closure and projects signs have been posted in the Pohick Stream Valley Park. See temporary closure map below for reference. For alternate park locations and trails to explore during this temporary closure, residents are encouraged to use the Park Authority’s Park Amenity Locator and Trail Buddy tools.

As part of this work, the sanitary sewer flow will need to be by-passed for the rehabilitation to take place under dry pipe conditions. A series of by-pass pumps, and piping will be installed above ground reroute the sewer flow to a discharge manhole located in the vicinity of Wadebrook Terrace. See the photos below for an example of this setup.

Cross County Trail - Temporary Closure Map

Typical By-pass setup
Typical By-pass setup
By-pass pump
By-pass pump

Project Cost and Funding Source

This project is set to cost $7,314,900 and is fully funded through sewer service charges from existing customers and availability charges, which are one-time fees for the initial connection to the system. No tax dollars are funding these improvements.

Contact

For more information, please email Sara Ferrance, Engineer V Fairfax County Wastewater Collection Division at sara.ferrance@fairfaxcounty.gov or call our residential wastewater 24-Hour Customer Communications Center 703-323-1211 | TTY 711

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