The City of Bremerton has announced a construction schedule for replacing a downtown sewer line this summer.

Stan Palmer Construction, the main contractor for the $2.3 million Crosstown Sewer Pipeline Project, which is about $1 million less than the city originally expected the work to cost, is planning to close Naval Avenue between 11th Street and 13th Street to thru-traffic starting May 15. They also propose closing 11th Street between Montgomery and Naval Avenue from June 11 to August 3 for installation of a new 36-inch pipe.

Bremerton Public Works Director Katy Allen said that one of the biggest impacts from the project will be to commuters trying to make it to and from work. Area residents, she said, are already bracing for the work and figuring out ways to deal with it.

The crosstown pipeline conveys all the sewage from East Bremerton and much of West Bremerton to the city’s treatment plant. City engineer Ned Leever said that the line is arguably the most important one in the city.

Leever has told the city council that city staff will continue to reach out to area residents, business and others prior to and during construction.

The crosstown sewer line has failed three separate times between 2007 and 2010 during heavy rainfall events, resulting in sanitary sewer overflow events.

The project includes the installation of some 2,600 feet of 36-inch diameter high density polyethylene pipe that is larger in diameter and will allow more flow and the material is far more resistant to the corrosive effects of wastewater. Additionally, approximately 866 feet of the existing pipe will be rehabilitated using Cure-In-Place-Pipe technology. Finally, the concrete surge chamber at the intersection of 13th Street and Naval Avenue will be replaced with a HDPE manhole.