Location

From Duck Pond Park on Sycamore Avenue (opposite the Corporation Yard) to the Pinole-Hercules Water Pollution Control Plant (located at the north end of Tennant Avenue in Pinole)

About the Project

Project consists of replacing 5,200-linear feet (LF) of 24‐inch asbestos cement pipe and 200-LF of 24‐inch welded steel pipe with approximately 5,500-linear feet of new 27- to 36-inch diameter pipelines. This project replaces a 24-inch pipe that was installed in 1972 that has served its full service life. Furthermore, additional capacity is needed to convey effluent from new and future development. 

Public Works Contact

Glenn Dombeck
Public Work Director/City Engineer
gdombeck@herculesca.gov
(510) 799-8241

Contractor

Cratus, Inc.

Project Updates

• June 2025 - Project is complete.
• March 2024 - This  project $14M project is 95% complete, including installation of the new 30-inch sewer main, siphon under Pinole Creek, and boring under the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks.  However, a fully protected species of raptor nested on-site earlier this month, bringing all construction to a stop and the project could be delayed up to 75 days until the fledglings leave the nest.  
• December 2023 - The contractor is currently installing the new sewer main along the segment between the Water Treatment Plant and the bottom of Camden Avenue.  They have completed the boring under Pinole Creek and UP Railroad.  The project is approximately 80% complete and tentatively scheduled for completion by the end of March. 
• October 2023 - The project is proceeding on schedule and within budget.  Currently there are 3 crews on-site installing the new sewer line at three separate locations: the tunneling operation on Tennant Avenue under Pinole Creek, the Bay Trail between Santa Fe and Tennant Avenue, and the trail between Duck Pond Park and Camden Avenue.   The tentative completion date is March, 2024.
• June 2023 - Please be advised 22 trees have identified for removal on this project.  The trenching for the new sewer pipe, which is quite large given the need to convey the entire City’s sewage to the treatment plant, will irreparably damage the roots and if the trees are left in place they will likely die and become hazardous.  The trees species are 10 eucalyptus, 5 oak, 1 willow, 4 acacia, and 2 cypress.  The native oak trees are relatively small and will be replaced.  Many of the eucalyptus are hazardous and are leaning over the trail, so their removal is needed for safety reasons regardless.  Several of the trees to be removed are either dying or have been heavily damaged by pruning performed by others.  Once the pipeline has been installed, staff will assess the project and have drought tolerant, native species planted as needed for aesthetic reasons.
• May 2023 - Potholing to identify potential conflicts with the new sewer trunk main is nearing completion. The contractor is installing a temporary bypass parallel to the Bay Trail from Santa Fe Avenue over Pinole Creek to allow the new pipe to be installed along the same alignment of the existing pipe that's located in the Bay Trail. 
• March 2023 - This project was awarded to the low bidder, Cratus Inc., for $11.6M in December and the ground breaking is anticipated to occur mid-March.  Construction is anticipated to take approximately 1 year.  Completing this project will be a major enhancement to the sewer collection system.
• November 2022 - The project is out to bid with tentative Council award date of December 13, 2022.  Construction is anticipated to take approximately 1 year.  Efforts are underway to secure easements for the new sewer pipe at the end of Camden Lane to move the alignment to the center of the street, further away from the adjacent homes.