Expanding Capacity Along a Critical Sewer Corridor
Installing new sanitary sewer infrastructure beneath one of Tucson's busiest roadways while maintaining traffic flow and minimizing impacts to businesses and commuters.
KE&G installed 5,485 linear feet of new 12-inch sanitary sewer beneath 22nd Street between Alvernon Way and Swan Road. Through early coordination, phased construction, and around-the-clock work during critical closures, the project improved sewer capacity while minimizing impacts to traffic, nearby businesses, and the traveling public.
Project Overview
The Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department initiated the 22nd Street Sewer Augmentation project to increase wastewater capacity along a heavily traveled transportation corridor in Tucson. The new 12-inch sanitary sewer eliminated reliance on an aging 10-inch vitrified clay pipeline, supporting continued growth and long-term system reliability.
Because construction took place beneath one of the city's busiest arterial roadways, maintaining mobility throughout the project was just as important as installing the new utility. From preconstruction through completion, KE&G worked closely with Pima County, the City of Tucson Department of Transportation, Tucson Water, utility owners, and the project's public outreach team to coordinate work, communicate with surrounding businesses and residents, and reduce disruptions wherever possible.
KE&G self-performed approximately 85% of the work while providing estimating, constructability reviews, value engineering, scheduling, quality control, and subcontractor management as part of the CMAR delivery process. Additionally, grading and stabilizing the subgrade ensured every layer above it had a solid foundation. Our crews balanced earthwork on site wherever possible to reduce haul trips and keep the surrounding roads clean for neighbors and commuters.
Scope of Work
- Installed 5,485 LF of new 12-inch sanitary sewer.
- Constructed sewer improvements between Alvernon Way and Swan Road.
- Performed utility potholing and conflict investigation.
- Coordinated utility relocations and design revisions.
- Installed a new 36-inch waterline crossing at the 22nd Street and Alvernon Way intersection.
- Completed roadway paving and restoration.
- Performed estimating, constructability reviews, scheduling, quality control, and subcontractor management.
- Self-performed approximately 85% of the construction work.
Our Approach
The success of this project depended on detailed planning before construction began. KE&G identified traffic control, utility coordination, and bypass routing as the primary project risks during preconstruction and worked closely with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation, Tucson Water, and other utility owners to establish clear communication and resolve issues before they affected construction. The team also partnered with a public relations firm to keep nearby businesses and residents informed throughout the project.
To minimize impacts along the busy 22nd Street corridor, construction activities were carefully scheduled around peak traffic periods. Four underground utility crews and a roadway crew completed a critical 17-foot-deep waterline crossing through the 22nd Street and Alvernon Way intersection during a weekend closure. The pipeline installation, roadway paving, and traffic restoration were completed in just 54 hours, allowing all travel lanes and turning movements to reopen quickly. As construction progressed, KE&G's proactive approach to utility investigations identified a 54-inch concrete cylinder pipe water main that differed from the design by more than two feet. Rather than waiting for the issue to delay construction, the team immediately coordinated with the owner and design team to develop a revised solution. The redesign was completed over a weekend, allowing construction to continue without standby time or significant schedule impacts.
Built on Ownership
As a 100% employee-owned company, every project we deliver reflects the commitment of the people who own the outcome. Our employee owners take pride in building lasting infrastructure, solving challenges collaboratively, and delivering work that strengthens the communities we serve. That ownership mindset drives accountability, quality, and long-term relationships on every project.
