The deep rectangular pit at the intersection of Los Trancos and Ramona roads that has been plaguing residents of rural Los Trancos Woods — dubbed the “big damn hole” by a nearby resident — was covered last week, before the latest downpours.
Tim Clayton, general manager of the West Bay Sanitary District, said the 28-foot-deep manhole was the “biggest and most difficult” part of the project to bring sewers to the former summer home community that has suffered from failing septic tanks.
The deep manhole will allow construction workers to bore a hole and thread an underground pipe casing to connect with the sewer line down Los Trancos Road. Trenches will still be dug up Los Trancos and Ramona roads to connect with the sewers that have already been installed, Mr. Clayton said.
The contractor is installing the casing “so we don’t have a 28-foot trench along neighborhood roads,” Mr. Clayton said. “We haven’t needed to close a road.”
The actual sewer line will be threaded through the casing pipe later. The double pipe arrangement “makes it easier to repair and replace” the sewer lines, Mr. Clayton added.
The casing runs underground about 150 feet down Los Trancos Road, according to Rich Laureta of Freyer & Laureta. The 200-foot trench along Ramona Road is scheduled for this week, weather permitting, Mr. Laureta said in an email to Mr. Clayton.
The entire project should be over within 30 days — depending on the weather, Mr. Clayton said. “It should be over soon.”
