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The new partially subterranean water pumping facility, which will replace the existing plant built in 1956, will have the capacity to deliver 16 million gallons of water per day to Lafayette, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek. When complete, the new garage-like facility will be 20 to 24 feet tall, with the pumping equipment partly underground to dampen noise and reduce the size of the structure.
Drivers should be aware that construction is going to get worse with the next phase, as the construction process requires the boulevard to shrink to two lanes.
Scheduled for the end of May and the beginning of June, three 30-inch waterlines will be running underground approximately 200 feet from the new plumping plant footprint, across the street and to the westbound lanes of Mt. Diablo Boulevard.
Another 1,000 feet of 30-inch waterline will be installed under the outside westbound lane of Mt. Diablo Boulevard from approximately Mt. Diablo Court to Carol Lane in late June and July, or perhaps early August, according to EBMUD spokeswoman Michelle Blackwell.
Original plans called for not being able to make a left turn out of the Mt. Diablo Court, instead having drivers loop around at Pleasant Hill Road. While turning left is possible now, it's a little tricky with bright orange barriers creating a safe walking space for pedestrians in front of the chain link fence that surrounds the construction site.
Lafayette Chief of Police Eric Christensen would like to remind drivers that the speed limit in the area has been reduced to 25 miles per hour, and fines are double in construction zones.
His advice? "Slow down, people! It's a minor inconvenience and it will save you a ton of money."
The project is slated to be complete in September 2017.
- C. Tyson
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA