Little Hunting Creek Force Main Replacement Project
Project Update: July 9, 2025
Pipe installation under Little Hunting Creek is not yet complete. A second attempt at HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) in June 2025 failed, and further crossing attempts are paused while we look for a solution.
Open cut installation is about 75% complete and will continue along Wessynton Way through the summer.
Here are the latest updates:
Wessynton Forest Trail: The trail has reopened with temporary restoration. The 36” HDPE pipe is safely stored along the north side of the trail. Cleanup and restoration will follow.
Wessynton Swim & Tennis Club: The pool reopened in June 2025. No construction work is planned in this area this summer.
Surrey Ct., Surrey Dr., & Mt. Vernon Hwy: Open cut installation is finished. Connection to the sewer system and restoration of Surrey Ct’s green area will happen later this year. Materials and equipment will remain on the Mt Vernon Hwy frontage road.
Wessynton Way: Open cut installation will continue, the road will stay open with occasional lane closures.
Little Hunting Creek Pump Station: Equipment has been removed from Stockton Pkwy but may return in the Fall.
The project is expected to be completed by 2026.
Please keep a safe distance, follow warning signs, and avoid construction areas. Thank you for your patience as we complete this project.
Project Background
The Little Hunting Creek Force Main carries wastewater from the Little Hunting Creek Pump Station. This pump station serves the surrounding community and other areas upstream. In 2016, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) repaired parts of the force main after inspecting its condition. However, due to its age and the inspection results, DPWES decided that the force main needs to be replaced.
A study looked at different ways to replace the old force main. Its location under a tidal creek and through residential areas makes it difficult to use normal construction methods. Here are the challenges:
How to install it
Where to keep materials and equipment
Following environmental rules
Limits on work times
Possible damage to the old force main and nearby utilities
Effects on private property
Managing traffic and access to homes
Future maintenance and operation
Out of the nine options evaluated, the one shown below was selected because it:
Minimizes environmental impacts
Reduces effects on private property
Provides potential nature trail improvements
Makes future maintenance easier
Existing and New Little Hunting Creek Force Main
Project Description
This project will replace 4,560 feet of the existing 30-inch pipe. We will use horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to replace the section under Little Hunting Creek with 30” and 36” pipe. Regular digging, also known as open cut or trenching, will be used to connect it using 30” pipes to the end point near the intersection of Surrey Dr. and Surrey Ct.
Project Location
The force main is in the Mount Vernon District. It starts at the Little Hunting Creek Pump Station near the intersection of Thomas J. Stockton Pkwy. and Londonderry Rd. on the east side of Little Hunting Creek. The pipe runs westward under Little Hunting Creek and through residential areas. It ends at a junction near the intersection of Surrey Dr. and Surrey Ct.
Project Phase
This project is currently under construction.
Project Benefits
Replacing the Little Hunting Creek Force Main will:
Reduce the need for maintenance
Prevent costly emergency repairs
Provide safe and reliable utility services
Improve life for Fairfax County residents
Lower risks to public health and the environment
The new force main is expected to last for the next 50 years.
Timeline
Fall 2024: Construction contract awarded
Winter 2024: Construction, drilling, and digging within roads started
Summer 2025: Digging within roads ends
2026: Construction completion
What To Expect
DPWES staff and consultants will closely supervise all the work to make sure it is done right. We will do our best to keep noise and disruptions to a minimum in your neighborhood and plan construction to avoid interfering with your recreational activities. You can rest assured that your sewer service will continue without any interruptions.
Project Cost and Funding Source
The Little Hunting Creek Force Main Project will cost $13.6 million to construct, which will be provided by Fairfax County’s Capital Improvement Program. This program supports important wastewater and infrastructure projects like this one.
Presentations To The Community
Access information shared about this project at previous community meetings through the links below and the FAQ:
For emergencies or assistance outside of regular business hours, please contact the Customer Communications Center at 703.323.1211 (TTY 711) or DPWES-CCC@FairfaxCounty.gov.