Water System Improvement Program SF Peninsula

Seismic Upgrades to Water System Resume at Sawyer Camp Trail

2012-01-13T13:56:00.000-08:00

Work to prepare the trail for rain is underway at several locations along the southern-most 3-mile section. This Saturday two hydroseed trucks will seed hillsides along the trail. The trucks will primarily use water system access roads that run behind the trail. The hydroseed trucks must drive on Sawyer Camp Trail between the 2.3 and 3 mile markers and will be supervised by an environmental specialist at all times.

Next week, construction work to seismically upgrade the water pipeline adjacent to the trail resumes.

Increased truck traffic will be present on the trail Tuesday to Friday (January 17^th to 20^th). The trail will remain open sunrise to sunset. No trail closures are now scheduled, but we do expect short closures this winter. Please subscribe (see right) to receive automatic email updates.

Before sunrise, our contractor will be moving large equipment down the trail to pipeline work locations. Please do not enter the trail before sunrise! You will be entering an active construction zone.

Construction is taking place near the popular southern-most 3-mile section of the trail. If you haven’t discovered the northern section of the trail yet, now is a great time! The northern trailhead is in Millbrae and can be reached from I-280 via the Larkspur/Hillcrest Blvd. exit (southbound on 280) or via the Millbrae Ave. exit (northbound on 280). Turn west on Hillcrest Blvd. to the trail entrance.

Please contact us 24 hours a day at (866) 973-1476 if you have any questions or concerns about activity near Sawyer Camp Trail.

Critical Water System Work in January 2012

2012-01-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

Neighbors of San Andreas Lake, just west of Highway 280 near the town of San Bruno, may have noticed the Lake’s recent low water level. This reservoir is low due to Water System Improvement Program work – not due to recent dry weather. Despite the lack of rain so far this winter, our region’s reservoirs are still in good shape thanks to heavy rain last year. The water level is expected to remain low in San Andreas Lake until our water pipeline is returned to service in late March 2012.

Also:

Underwater construction at San Andreas Lake is part of the Crystal Springs/San Andreas Transmission System Upgrade project. This project currently has several work locations throughout the 23-acre Peninsula Watershed. On Monday morning, January 9^th three sequential deliveries of large pipe will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Crystal Springs Road in San Bruno just north of the Junipero Serra County Park and San Bruno City Park. Please call our 24-hour phone line if you have any concerns or questions!

Further south near Sawyer Camp Trail, crews will begin mobilizing equipment after the Martin Luther King holiday weekend in preparation for a “shutdown” of the water pipeline that runs next to the trail. Sawyer Camp Trail is expected to be open every day, sunrise to sunset, until the week of January 17^th. We do expect a short trail closure that week or in late January. Please subscribe (see right) to receive an automatic email notification as soon as the exact closure dates are announced.

Lane Closure in December on Crystal Springs Road near Polhemus

2011-12-14T08:58:00.000-08:00

Beginning Wednesday, December 14^th, portions of Crystal Springs Road between Skyline Blvd. and Polhemus will be closed to one lane from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flaggers will be present to direct traffic through one open lane at all times. The work is expected to finish by December 23^rd, Monday through Friday only.

Our Crystal Springs Pipeline No. 2 (CSPL2) runs through the area and provides water to San Mateo County. The CSPL2 project team is preparing for work to replace and upgrade this portion of the water pipeline in mid-2012.

Please call 24-hours a day with any questions: (866) 973-1476.

Construction Traffic Temporarily Diverted to Helen Drive in Millbrae

2011-12-12T14:20:00.000-08:00

We are working in Millbrae on long term improvements at our Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant. Due to unexpected repairs in the roadway at the Harry Tracy plant entrance on Crystal Springs Road, construction traffic must be temporarily redirected through the Helen Drive plant entrance.

Traffic flaggers will be present. This temporary traffic diversion is expected to take no longer than one week. Increased truck traffic on Helen Drive will be present only during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Please call 24-hours with any questions or concerns: (866) 973-1476!

Saturday work on December 10th near Polhemus Road in San Mateo

2011-12-09T10:47:00.000-08:00

Crews will continue landscaping work at the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel South Shaft site near Polhemus Road in San Mateo.

They will be on site this Saturday, December 10th beginning at 9am. Crews have been directed to not use any loud equipment before 9am and to not make noise if they arrive on site to mobilize before 9am.

Dust control measures will be used to help prevent dust.

Work will continue at the site during the week of December 12th.

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns: 866-973-1476.

Lane Closure on Crystal Springs Road Near Sawyer Camp Trail – December 8 and 9

2011-12-08T08:34:00.001-08:00

Thursday and Friday (December 8^th and 9^th) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., portions of Crystal Springs Road between Skyline Blvd. and Polhemus will periodically be closed to one lane. Flaggers will be present to direct traffic through one open lane at all times.

The Crystal Springs Pipeline No. 2 (CSPL2) team will be “potholing” – a limited activity with a small crew – in advance of work in 2012 to replace and upgrade the CSPL2 drinking water pipeline. This pipeline provides water to San Mateo County and runs through unincorporated San Mateo County, Hillsborough, Burlingame, Millbrae, San Bruno, South San Francisco, Brisbane and Daly City.

Please call 24-hours a day with any questions: (866) 973-1476.

Landscaping Work Continues on Polhemus Rd in San Mateo

2011-12-07T10:00:00.001-08:00

Crews continue to work at the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel South Shaft site along Polhemus Road in San Mateo.

Hydroseeding began this week and will likely continue into next week (week of December 12th). Neighbors may notice the bright green color on the soil in the area. The green soil mixture contains thousands of seeds that will germinate with the wet weather and grow into grasses in the late winter/early spring. The green color will eventually disappear. Neighbors may see the machine spraying the seeds this week.

Crews will likely finish the landscaping work during the week of December 12th.

Work is moving quickly thanks to the sunny weather. In order to manage dust, crews will continue to wet down the area with water as needed.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. Contact Amy Sinclair at 415-551-4659, asinclair@sfwater.org. After hours and weekends please call 866-973-1476.

Happy Holidays!

Revegetation Work to begin at New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel site in San Mateo

2011-11-29T12:34:00.000-08:00

Beginning on or around Thursday, December 1st, work crews will begin weeding and grading the South Shaft site area off of Polhemus Road in San Mateo.

The work is part of the final revegetation/relandscaping work for the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project, which was completed this past summer.

During the week of December 5th, crews will spray a hydroseed mixture on the site. Hydroseed is a mixture of seeds and nutrients, often green or blue in color (see example in photo) that will germinate into grasses this winter and spring.

Some equipment, including work trucks, grading machinery and a water truck, will be on site for the next several weeks.

Crews have been asked to maintain dust control and water down the site often. They have also been asked to minimize noise and keep the roadway near the entrance clean and free of mud and debris.

Work hours will be Monday - Friday from 7am to 5pm with some Saturday work possible beginning at 9am.

Please contact Amy Sinclair at 415-551-4659 or asinclair@sfwater.org with any concerns or questions. After hours and weekends, please call 866-973-1476.

Happy Holidays

2011-11-22T10:00:00.001-08:00

The staff of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission would like to wish you and your families a very Happy Thanksgiving.

We hope you enjoy our great Hetch Hetchy tap water while you celebrate this week.

"Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct: Big Fixes for Big Quakes" airing Tonight and 11/9 on KQED Quest

2011-11-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

“Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct: Big Fixes for Big Quakes” will air tonight, Friday, November 4th on KQED Channel 9 on “This Week in Northern California” at 7:30PM.

The longer version will air on Channel 9 this upcoming Wednesday, November 9th at 7:30PM.

The KQED Quest documentary features the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's (SFPUC) Water System Improvement Program to rebuild and seismically update the Hetch Hetchy Water System.

Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant: Construction Update

2011-11-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

Work to excavate the site of our new 11 million gallon Treated Water Reservoir continues at our Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant in Millbrae. This reservoir, which holds drinking water before it enters the distribution system, is being relocated within the plant to a more seismically stable area.

Additional truck traffic along Crystal Springs Road will continue, as materials are delivered and the excavated soil is removed.

The plant must maintain water treatment operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the 4 years of construction. Coordinating the continued operation of the plant while reconfiguring and relocating systems is a complicated challenge for our contractors and operations staff!

We are making every effort to minimize construction impacts to your neighborhood. Please let us know your concerns and comments by contacting us at (866) 973-1476…or by attending our Open House on November 14^th.

Informational Open House on construction at our Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant

Date: Monday, November 14th

Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Location: San Bruno Recreation Center

Community Room, 251 City Park Way

Directions: The San Bruno Recreation Center is located inside San Bruno City Park near the intersection of Crystal Springs Rd. and Oak Ave.

Our project team will be on-hand to answer any questions you have about the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System, current system-wide upgrades, as well as construction project updates. This is an informal drop-in event – stop by any time!

Landscaping Work to Begin Soon at New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel South Shaft in San Mateo

2011-10-31T13:46:00.000-07:00

In the next few weeks, crews will return to the South Shaft site of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project near Polhemus Road in San Mateo to begin adding a native seedmix to the meadow.

The process, called hydroseeding, involves spraying a mixture of seeds, water and nutrients onto an area of dirt. In some cases, the mixture may be a bright green or blue color.

Watch this blog for more details and a timeframe for the process.

Sawyer Camp Trail 2-day Closure -- November 2nd and 3rd

2011-10-27T15:54:00.000-07:00

Sawyer Camp Trail will be closed for two days on November 2^nd and 3^rd (Wednesday and Thursday).

During the closure, our project team will deliver additional rock to our new access road segments, and continue seismic upgrades on our Crystal Springs/San Andreas Pipeline. Water in this pipeline has been “turned off” for the months of October and November to facilitate this work.

Notice the unusual green color on some slopes along the trail? This is a temporary, first step of re-vegetation. This bright green soil stabilizer will turn brown and blend in with the surrounding landscape as it dries. During next year’s dry season, we’ll be re-planting native plants in these locations.

One more thing of interest to trail users: the Lower Crystal Springs Dam concrete pours will continue through mid-November. The biggest day will be on Tuesday, November 1^st when approximately 65 trucks will deliver cement using Skyline Blvd., Crystal Springs Road and Polhemus Road. Much smaller pours (just a few trucks) are expected on October 28^th (Friday) and October 31^st (Monday).

Construction of a larger stilling basin, Lower Crystal Springs Dam.

Please do not hesitate to call with your questions or concerns, 24 hours a day (866) 973-1476.

Sawyer Camp Trail Open

2011-10-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

The entire Sawyer Camp Trail is now open! You will see some construction vehicles driving on the trail daily for the next several weeks. The largest truck is expected to be a water truck, necessary to control dust at the pipeline work locations next to the trail.

Additional short trail closures are expected this fall. Please subscribe to http://sawyercamptrail.blogspot.com/ to get automatic email updates!

Neighbors have asked us about the night work currently taking place on Highway 280 above the Lower Crystal Springs Dam. This is a Caltrans project to improve drainage on the freeway. Caltrans expects the work to be completed by November 15^th, prior to the official start of the rainy season.

Please call us 24 hours a day with any questions or concerns at (866) 973-1476.

South San Francisco Patch: Work Continues to Enlarge Crystal Springs Reservoir Capacity

2011-10-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Posted via South San Francisco Patch http://bit.ly/mTvmUf

October 24, 2011

by Dave Colby

On a day that many in the Bay Area felt a magnitude 3.9 temblor, work continued last Thursday to re-pipe, rebuild, and earthquake-proof the infrastructure of the Crystal Springs Reservoir.

Crystal Springs serves primarily as a backup water source for the northern portion of San Mateo County and for the City of San Francisco. In a typical year, 15 percent of its water is used by residents; 85 percent is left in storage. The water held in the reservoir comes from the Hetch Hetchy valley near Yosemite, and from local watersheds.

The work that began in early April has a two-fold purpose. The first is to protect this primary source of backup water that would be needed in case any of the unsteady faults in the Bay Area rupture enough to create a crippling earthquake.

Piplines that would ultimately take the emergency water from the reservoir to our taps are old.

"Some of our pipelines and other facilities are aging and need to be addressed," says Maureen Barry, communications manager for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. "Many of them were built early in the 20th century and have reached the end of their useful life."

Ironically, the reservoir lays virtually on top of the notorious San Andreas fault.

The second purpose is to add nine feet of height to the dam in Lower Crystal Springs. Doing so will restore the capacity of the reservoir to its “historic levels”, enabling the capture of more summer Sierra runoff in years of abundant snowpack, and conversely, helping to better cope with anticipated drought conditions in dry years.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which manages Crystal Springs, has employed contractors on the $320 million project through the summer, work that in some cases will continue until 2013.

"Some of these facilities we haven't been able to take out and maintain because we have such a demand for water," says Barry. "Redundancy is now being built in so we can do a better job when something breaks down and still deliver water."

The project work on Crystal Springs is being built to withstand an earthquake of magnitude 7.8, the largest ever recorded on the San Andreas fault.

For hikers, Sawyer Camp Trail - adjacent to the reservoir - has been closed several times during the summer because of the project. Barry says there may be more trail closures coming, as work crews hustle to beat the rainy season.

Busy Day -- Work Near Sawyer Camp Trail on Monday, October 24th

2011-10-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

On Monday, October 24^th Sawyer Camp Trail will be closed from the Hillcrest Gate to the 5 mile marker. This northern-most one mile section of trail will close all day for routine water system maintenance. You will be able to enter the trail at the southern trailhead (Skyline and Crystal Springs Road) and enjoy the first five miles of trail, but there will be no through access at Hillcrest.

The southern portion of the trail will be open Monday, but hikers may see something unexpected: A Hydroseed Truck on the trail! The truck will be applying “Earth Guard” onto the slopes near the trail to prevent erosion. Earth Guard is an environmentally friendly soil stabilizer, and the work is monitored by wildlife biologists. This must be done in advance of the winter storms, but does not require the trail to be closed.

The next big concrete pour for the Lower Crystal Springs Dam stilling basin will take place this Monday, October 24^th. 90 trucks will deliver cement to the area between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. using Polhemus and Crystal Springs Road. A smaller pour is scheduled for Tuesday, October 25^th with about 20 to 45 cement deliveries starting at 6 a.m. Construction on the Lower Crystal Springs Dam stilling basin, spillway and parapet wall is expected to finish on schedule by November 15^th!

Please contact us 24-hours a day with any questions or concerns at (866) 973-1476.

Map of work near Sawyer Camp Trail in 2011 and 2012. Click to enlarge.

Peninsula Watershed Update

2011-10-18T15:34:00.000-07:00

v Reminder: Sawyer Camp Trail is closed for two days on October 19th and 20^th (Wednesday and Thursday). The entire trail will be closed for two days - to reopen at sunrise on Friday, October 21^st.

v On Monday, October 24^th Sawyer Camp Trail will be closed from the Hillcrest Gate to the 5 mile marker. This northern-most one mile section of trail will close all day for routine water system maintenance. You will be able to enter the trail at the southern trailhead (Skyline and Crystal Springs Road) and enjoy the first five miles of trail, but there will be no through access at Hillcrest.

v Work continues on the Lower Crystal Springs Dam stilling basin. The next big concrete pour will take place this Monday, October 24^th: 90 trucks will deliver cement to the area between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. using Polhemus and Crystal Springs Road. A smaller pour is scheduled for Tuesday, October 25^th with about 20 to 45 cement deliveries starting at 6 a.m. Construction on the Lower Crystal Springs Dam stilling basin, spillway and parapet wall is expected to finish on schedule by November 15^th!

Please contact us 24-hours a day with any questions or concerns at (866) 973-1476!

Sawyer Camp Trail 2-day Closure: October 19th and 20th

2011-10-14T08:39:00.000-07:00

TRAIL CLOSURE:

Sawyer Camp Trail will be closed for two days on October 19th and 20^th (Wednesday and Thursday). The entire trail will be closed for two days - to reopen at sunrise on Friday, October 21^st.

The closure (originally scheduled for earlier this month) is needed to prepare for the rainy season at construction sites near the trail. Also, 100 trucks will deliver rock to complete new access road segments that run along our water pipeline. These access roads will enable repairs and maintenance of the Crystal Springs/San Andreas Pipeline… without driving on Sawyer Camp Trail!

WEEKEND WORK:

Crews will be working this Saturday and Sunday at the Lower Crystal Springs Dam work site (near the southern trailhead to Sawyer Camp Trail) in order to complete work prior to winter storms. Work will also continue all weekend on the Crystal Springs/San Andreas Pipeline adjacent to Sawyer Camp Trail. The pipeline was recently emptied of water for a short window of time to allow for seismic upgrades and valve replacements. Small pick-up trucks and one water truck for dust control will need to drive on the trail both Saturday and Sunday at speeds no more than 5 mph.

POLHEMUS AND BUNKER HILL

All day Friday, October 14^th our team will be removing soil from a staging area along Polhemus between Crystal Springs Road and Bunker Hill Drive. You may notice our flagger directing traffic on Polhemus. This work will break for the weekend, but may need to resume on Monday (October 17^th).

Please contact us 24-hours a day with any questions or concerns at (866) 973-1476!

ASCE Honors New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel Project Team

2011-10-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) selected New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel for its Large Project of the Year award.

Located in San Mateo County near Polhemus Road, this project is at final completion.

Several members of the project team joined Julie Labonte, Director of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Water System Improvement Program (WSIP), in celebrating the achievement at the San Francisco Section annual dinner in late September. Labonte accepted the award on behalf of Peninsula Regional Project Manager Husam Masri who was out of the country at the time.

One of the very first WSIP regional projects, the new 4,200 foot tunnel and pipeline in San Mateo County was completed ahead of schedule using less than 4% of its contingency funds. An Arup Brierley team assisted SFPUC’s engineering team led by Project Engineer Gilbert Tang with the design. Shank/Balfour Beatty excavated the tunnel using a 12-foot-diameter shielded disc-cutterhead tunnel boring machine. Jacobs Associates of San Francisco provided the construction management.

Labonte applauded the combined team’s excellent design and construction management within strict budget and schedule constraints while contending successfully with neighbors in close proximity and active creek habitats. “Only the best team work can produce such an exceptional performance,” said Labonte.

Here is a photo of the project team at the ASCE event in late September. Congratulations!

Sawyer Camp Trail: Construction Update

2011-09-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

Thank you to the regular users of Sawyer Camp Trail for bearing with our construction and necessary truck traffic on the trail! Truck traffic is expected to reach a peak this September and October – so remain cautious as you travel the southern portion of the trail. Our drivers are required to travel no more than 5 miles per hour – but sometimes even that pace can make for a surprise on the trail. If you see any activity that concerns you, please call our 24-hour answering line: (866) 973-1476. A good alternate: The northern portion of the trail from Hillcrest Gate is truck free!

In early October, our water pipeline adjacent to the trail will be “shut down” so that crews can install new valves. This pipeline project involves seismic upgrades to 150 connection points and replacing more than 2,000 feet of pipe.

Short trail closures are expected this autumn, but our team is making every effort to minimize inconvenience to trail users.

The good news?

Saturdays and Sundays are currently free of construction-related driving (Park Rangers and Watershed Keepers do still patrol the trail, as always).

Work along the northern half of the trail is now complete. Our crews will no longer be driving from the 3 mile marker to the Hillcrest Gate.

By next spring, new dedicated access road segments will allow more than 80% of the water pipeline to be reached without driving on Sawyer Camp Trail. Construction traffic on the trail is expected to be rare after January 2012.

The Crystal Springs Reservoir System provides emergency backup and supplementary drinking water supply to San Mateo and San Francisco counties. Please call us 24 hours a day with any comments or questions at (866) 973-1476.

Increased Truck Traffic on Friday Nights thru Saturday Days (Approximately 6PM)

2011-08-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

Continuing tomorrow night and for the next three Friday nights (through September 3rd), increased truck traffic will be present on Black Mountain Road, Skyline Blvd., Crystal Springs Road, and Polhemus Rd. near the southern trailhead to the Sawyer Camp Trail.

On Friday, August 19th at 11 p.m., trucks will be delivering cement for the continued foundation pour at the base of the Lower Crystal Springs Dam. Truck traffic will continue throughout the night, and throughout Saturday day.

The work will enlarge the dam’s stilling basin (see photo) to ensure any spillway flows are slowed as they enter San Mateo Creek.

Please call our 24-hour answering service if you have any questions or concerns. You can also receive email alerts about construction in the Peninsula Watershed by subscribing to www.sfwater.org/SCT or follow us on Twitter: @SawyerCampTrail.

Increased Truck Traffic on Friday Nights into Saturday Mornings

2011-08-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

Starting tonight and continuing for the next four Friday nights (through September 3rd), increased truck traffic will be present on Black Mountain Road, Skyline Blvd. and Crystal Springs Road near the southern trailhead to the Sawyer Camp Trail.

Beginning tonight, Friday, August 12th at 11 p.m., trucks will be delivering cement for a large foundation pour at the base of the Lower Crystal Springs Dam. Truck traffic will continue throughout the night until approximately noon on Saturday.

The work will enlarge the dam’s stilling basin (see photo) to ensure any spillway flows are slowed as they enter San Mateo Creek.

Please call our 24-hour answering service if you have any questions or concerns. You can also receive email alerts about construction in the Peninsula Watershed by subscribing to www.sfwater.org/SCT or follow us on Twitter: @SawyerCampTrail.

Construction Update: Polhemus Road Near Bunker Hill

2011-07-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

Kiewit Infrastructure West, contractor for the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System, will be utilizing water system property at the corner of Bunker Hill Rd and Polhemus Rd. for temporary construction storage over the next 3 months.

Starting within the next two weeks, there will be truck and hauling activity onto the site (accessing from Polhemus Rd. only). We expect this activity to last approximately one week once it begins. Trucks will be delivering and storing soil at the site while construction at Lower Crystal Springs Dam is ongoing. All soil storage will be covered and continually monitored to ensure dust and runoff does not occur.

Truck hauling hours: 8AM – 6PM
Duration: Truck activity for one week.

Questions?
Please call our 24-hour answering service at (866) 973-1476 or email peninsula@sfwater.org.

For details about the Lower Crystal Springs Dam project, subscribe to our website for project updates: www.sfwater.org/SCT.

Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant Upgrades

2011-07-07T12:01:00.000-07:00

Starting July 7th, contractor, Kiewit Infrastructure West, Inc. will begin pile-driving activities at our Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant (near 280 and Crystal Springs Road). This plant treats drinking water from the Crystal Springs Reservoir System (Upper and Lower Crystal Springs Reservoirs and San Andreas Lake) for delivery to northern San Mateo County and San Francisco.

Pile-driving is necessary to form the foundation of our new seismically upgraded treated water reservoir. The first phase of this activity is expected to last no longer than 3 weeks (approximately the end of July).

All work for this project will take place within our property.

Additional noise may be audible to adjacent areas during construction activity. Noise levels will be monitored and maintained within permitted limits.

Vibrations are not expected to impact adjacent areas.

Residents may see additional truck traffic along Crystal Springs Road, as materials are delivered and removed from the site.

Northern Section of Sawyer Camp Trail Closed on Wednesday night, June 29th through Friday, July 1st

2011-06-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

A northern portion of Sawyer Camp Trail will be closed from the Hillcrest Gate entrance in Millbrae to the 4.5 mile marker beginning this Wednesday, June 29th at 5 p.m. The closure will be in effect through Friday, July 1st. When the trail reopens, please use caution as a metal plate will be located on the trail near the San Andreas Dam (approximately 1 mile south of the Hillcrest entrance).

The southern trailhead at Skyline Blvd. and Crystal Springs Rd. will be open as usual, but hikers will need to turn around by the 4.5 mile marker. No through traffic will be permitted. If you frequent the northern section of Sawyer Camp, you may have noticed lots of construction activity! Crews are seismically upgrading the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System -- ongoing work in the Peninsula Watershed is to enhance the reliability of San Mateo County’s emergency water supply.

Additional closures planned in July not related to the construction project:

July 11th: Cal-Fire tentatively plans to do seasonal fire prevention on Monday morning July 11th, and may close the northern trailhead at the Hillcrest Gate for a few hours.

July 12th – 14th: San Mateo County Parks will close the entire trail for three days (Tuesday through Thursday) to do required seasonal maintenance.

Please subscribe for automatic updates on trail closures on the blog: www.sfwater.org/SCT

Workers Along Polhemus Road in San Mateo Starting June 29th

2011-06-28T16:19:00.000-07:00

Starting on Wednesday, June 29th, the contractor for the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel and Pipeline project will begin performing removal work on small devices, called piezometers, on some of the hillsides and shoulders along Polhemus Road in San Mateo. Several work trucks will also be in the area.

On Thursday, June 30th, work will take place on Polhemus Road near the retaining wall located near the intersection of Ascension Drive and will require traffic control. Neighbors in the area may experience temporary traffic delays.

Thank you for your patience as we complete this important water project.

Please do not drive on upper terrace of South Shaft site off Polhemus Road

2011-06-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

The project team has noticed tire tracks on the upper terrace area of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel's South Shaft site off of Polhemus Road in San Mateo.

PLEASE do not drive cars, trucks, bicycles, etc on the upper terrace area/meadow area of the site. Driving on it will create issues for dust control and erosion. We have measures in place to reduce dust so it does not blow onto homes above.

This fall, we will be adding a native seed mixture to the upper terrace/meadow area.

Thank you for your patience and support as we complete this important water infrastructure project.

Aqua Colored Soil Stabilizer added to NCSBT Meadow Area near Polhemus Rd in San Mateo

2011-05-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Is anyone wondering why the upper terrace/meadow/muck disposal area at the South Shaft construction site of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel (NCSBT) is now an aqua-blue/green color?

In order to help prevent erosion and to control dust, the contractor has added a soil stablizer in preparation for revegitation.

In late summer/early fall, the area will be seeded with natives grasses and plants.

Please note the color of the soil stabilizer will fade over time! We promise the color is only temporary.

Construction Update at Peninsula Watershed Reservoirs

2011-05-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

Silt curtains to protect species and water quality

delivered to San Andreas Lake: May 10, 2011

Barge and Dive Boat Launching at San Andreas Lake:

Does the water level appear low to you at San Andreas Lake? It will continue to get slightly lower to accommodate upcoming underwater seismic improvements. You may also see our crew transporting large marine equipment near the trailhead to San Andreas Trail and the northern entrance to the Sawyer Camp Trail.

The construction team must use the Hillcrest Gate entrance for water craft and other large equipment, which may cause delays on Hillcrest Blvd. (near Skyline in Millbrae, just west of 280). Large deliveries are expected over the next couple of weeks, with work in the reservoir taking place all summer.

If you frequently access Sawyer Camp Trail from Millbrae’s northern trailhead, the trail will remain open! Follow us on Twitter for real-time updates about activities: http://www.Twitter.com/SawyerCampTrail.

Pulgas Water Temple Temporary Closure:

Further south in the Peninsula Watershed (along Cañada Road), the Pulgas Water Temple is closed as of Monday, May 23^rd and is expected to reopen in mid-summer 2011. Please subscribe (see right) in order to receive an email when the temple reopens.

Increased Truck Traffic on Polhemus Road in San Mateo

2011-05-20T14:09:00.000-07:00

Residents near the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel & Pipeline project on Polhemus Road in San Mateo will see additional large trucks in the area on Friday, May 20th. Trucks will be making deliveries to the project site and may create some additional traffic or delays on Polhemus Road between Bunker Hill Road and Crystal Springs Road.

The trucks are delivering top soil to the project terrace areas. Dust control measures are in place to help prevent dirt and dust flying into the air. The contractor may continue grading work on the terrace (former muck disposal area) into Saturday.

The tunnel and pipeline are complete and the project is nearing completion. Thank you again to our neighbors for your continued support and patience during the final stages of the project.

Demobilization Continues near Polhemus Rd & Crystal Springs Rd in San Mateo

2011-05-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

Crews continue to remove equipment and materials from both the north and south shaft construction sites of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel & Pipeline project in San Mateo.

Early next week, crews will remove the k-rail along Crystal Springs Road near the former north shaft construction area (the 10 mph zone near Polhemus Road). Metal guard rail will be installed and crews will be working on the shoulder area. Please watch for crews in the area and use caution during this work next week.

Top soil deliveries will continue to the south shaft site along Polhemus Road. Please watch for trucks in the area during the day. Dust mitigation measures will be in effect to minimize dust.

Construction trailers will be removed from the site soon.

Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant Upgrades Beginning

2011-05-05T11:49:00.000-07:00

Starting in late April 2011, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) will begin upgrades to the Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant. This plant treats drinking water from the Crystal Springs Reservoir System (Upper and Lower Crystal Springs Reservoirs and San Andreas Lake) for delivery to northern San Mateo County
and San Francisco.

This work is part of the Water System Improvement Program to upgrade the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System which serves 2.5 million residents in the San Francisco Bay Area. This work will address seismic and capacity upgrades to ensure water
delivery following a major earthquake.

All work for this project will take place within the SFPUC property. Residents may see additional truck traffic along Crystal Springs Road, as materials are delivered and removed from the site.

The SFPUC will make every effort to minimize construction impacts to the adjacent residential neighborhood.

Questions or concerns:
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us!
Alison Kastama, SFPUC Communications (415) 554-0712 or akastama@sfwater.org

Truck Traffic on Polhemus Road in San Mateo this week

2011-05-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

Residents near the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel & Pipeline project on Polhemus Road in San Mateo will see additional large trucks in the area this week. Trucks will be making deliveries to the project site and may create some additional traffic or delays on Polhemus Road between Bunker Hill Road and Crystal Springs Road.

The trucks are delivering top soil to the project terrace areas. With the beautiful, sunny weather this week, dust control measures are in place to help prevent dirt and dust flying into the air.

The tunnel and pipeline are complete and the project is nearing completion. Thank you again to our neighbors for your continued support and patience during the final stages of the project.

Some additional Truck Traffic on Polhemus Road in San Mateo

2011-04-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

Residents near the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel & Pipeline project near Polhemus Road in San Mateo may see some additional large trucks in the area today and Friday, April 29th.

The trucks are delivering top soil to the project's lower terrace area. With the beautiful, sunny weather this week, dust control measures are in place to help prevent dirt and dust flying into the air.

The tunnel and pipeline are complete and the project is nearing completion. Over the next few months, additional equipment will be removed from the site, including the office trailers.

In the fall, as we get closer to the rainy season, a seed mixture of native grasses and plants will be added to the upper terrace (also known as the meadow or muck disposal area). More information will be provided this summer.

Thank you again to our neighbors for your continued support and patience during the final stages of the project.

Pulgas Water Temple Temporary Closure

2011-04-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

The Pulgas Water Temple will be closed for several weeks beginning on Monday, April 25, 2011. The temporary closure enables critical water system work to take place in the entrance and parking lot areas. The temple is anticipated to reopen in June 2011.

The Pulgas Water Temple and the associated facilities around it serve the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System and are components of the Crystal Springs Reservoir System. The Crystal Springs Reservoir System provides supplementary water supply to San Mateo and San Francisco counties, and is the primary emergency water source should delivery from the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct be interrupted.

The work is part of the Water System Improvement Program to repair, replace and seismically upgrade the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System.

Please contact us with any questions or concerns at (866) 973-1476, 24 hours a day. For email notification when then Pulgas Water Temple reopens, subscribe to our e-newsletter at www.sfwater.org/SCT .

VIDEO: Peninsula Projects Launch at Crystal Springs Reservoir

2011-04-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

On March 30th the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and Bay Area officials launched $320M in seismic and reliability upgrades to the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System. Peninsula projects include improvements to Lower Crystal Springs Dam, Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant, and Crystal Springs Pipelines. This event also marked the mid-point of this $4.6B Water System Improvement Program with active regional construction totaling $2 billion.

Removal of Construction Materials from North Shaft in San Mateo

2011-04-14T13:27:00.000-07:00

With the seismically advanced New Crystal Springs Tunnel and Pipeline in service, the project team is in the process of demobilizing their equipment and materials from the construction sites in San Mateo.

Over the next several weeks, crews will begin removing construction related materials from the North Shaft site located near the intersection of Crystal Springs Road and Polheumus Road in San Mateo. Crews will remove equipment, grade the soil on site, backfill soil, remove fencing and remove the k-rail concrete protective structures along the site of the roadway.

Please drive the posted 10 m.p.h speed limit on Crystal Springs Road and be aware of workers, trucks and equipment in or near the roadway during this demobilization work.

Once they remove the posted 10 m.p.h speed limit signs, the speed limit will return to normal.

Shoulder Work on Polhemus Road in April

2011-04-04T14:05:00.000-07:00

For the next few weeks, you may notice "Road Work Ahead" signs along Polhemus Road between the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel 'South Shaft' site (near Bunker Hill Road) and Crystal Springs Road in San Mateo.

The contractor will have a few workers working along the shoulder of Polhemus Road. They will be grouting inclinometer holes in accordance with county and state monitoring well standards.

The New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project is nearing completion and the new tunnel and pipeline are in service.

Town of Millbrae: Water Treatment Plant Upgrades

2011-03-25T11:59:00.000-07:00

Water Treatment Plant Upgrades (Millbrae) - Last week of March:

Construction preparation work will be starting for upgrades to the Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant. This plant treats drinking water from the Crystal Springs Reservoir System (Upper and Lower Crystal Springs Reservoirs and San Andreas Lake) for delivery to northern San Mateo County and San Francisco.

All work for this project will take place within the SFPUC property.

Residents near the northern end of Sycamore Drive and Crestview Drive in Millbrae may see some ground-clearing as the grounds within the Plant property are prepared for construction trailers. A visual and sound reduction fence will also be placed to maintain privacy for adjacent homeowners.

Questions or concerns:

If there are any questions that arise during this activity, please contact us!

Alison Kastama, SFPUC Communications (415) 554-0712 or akastama@sfwater.org

Work Begins at San Andreas Lake and Continues at Sawyer Camp Trail

2011-03-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

Is the San Andreas Trail one of your regular hiking spots? If so, you may see workers near San Andreas Lake preparing for or beginning construction. San Andreas Trail will remain open for everyone throughout construction.

Water pipeline and structure upgrade projects are beginning in the area. Crews are mobilizing at the Lower Crystal Springs Dam to complete necessary hydraulic improvements to the dam.

Please Be Aware: Parking may become more limited near the Sawyer Camp Trailhead, as construction activity increases. The project team realizes that parking is already difficult at Sawyer Camp Trail, and will make every effort to preserve access. Stay tuned for more details!

Please contact us any time with questions or concerns. 24 hours a day, toll-free:
(866)-973-1476. Visit the project blog for the latest details about the work: http://www.sfwater.org/SCT

Pipeline work on El Camino Real starting in March

2011-03-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

Do you drive along El Camino Real? Learn more about an upcoming pipeline project in the area. SFPUC contractor Ranger Pipelines plan to install the first segment of Crystal Springs Pipeline No. 2 (CSPL2) this May along El Camino Real. A second installation is planned this June in South San Francisco.

To prepare for pipeline installation, limited construction work will begin in late March and continue through April. This minor work will include potholing to locate underground utilities along El Camino Real. Some limited excavation may be required to locate utilities such as cable and telephone lines. In addition, some preparation for the pipeline installation access pits may be completed at this time.

For more details, including project maps, visit: www.sfwater.org/CSPL2.

Video: What's Up with WSIP?

2011-03-03T11:55:00.001-08:00

Watch this short video and learn the latest about the SFPUC’s Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) to rebuild and seismically upgrade the Hetch Hetchy Water System.

Looking for other water system projects in San Mateo County and the Peninsula?

2011-03-02T15:58:00.000-08:00

Upgrades to the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System are happening across San Mateo County. Here are a few of the other project websites you can check in on (and subscribe to for updates!):

www.sfwater.org/sct - For projects around the Crystal Springs Reservoirs near Skyline Blvd. and Highway 92

www.sfwater.org/cspl2 - For the Crystal Springs Pipeline No. 2 Replacement project occurring along Crystal Springs Rd., El Camino Real, and in portions of South San Francisco, Brisbane and Daly City.

www.sfwater.org/penpl - For the Bay Division Pipeline No. 5 project constructing in Redwood City, Menlo Park, North Fair Oaks, and East Palo Alto.

Soon to come on this site: Upgrades to our Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant in San Bruno/Millbrae. Work is anticipated to start within our plant by April 2011. Check back here for updates.

Thanks again and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Peninsula Communications Team

Golf Balls on Construction Site can be Dangerous

2011-03-01T15:59:00.000-08:00

Dear Golf Lovers near South Shaft construction site,

The New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project team has been finding golf balls at the South Shaft construction site off of Polhemus Road in San Mateo. The project team believes the golf balls are coming from nearby homes above the construction site.

While we understand and share a love for golf, the project team would like to remind neighbors that golf balls can pose a significant danger to workers and construction equipment at the construction site.

Fast moving golf balls can strike workers, staff or cause significant damage to construction equipment such as cranes, cars and machinery, which can cause further injury to people.

We respectfully request that who ever is hitting these golf balls toward the construction site to stop immediately.

Thank you,
New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project team

Update: Demolition of Water Treatment Facility will Continue Next Week off Polhemus Road

2011-02-15T14:32:00.000-08:00

Water Treatment “Swimming Pool” to be Removed
The Water Treatment Facility at the South Shaft site, known by neighbors as the “Swimming Pool”, will continue to be demolished next week (week of February 21st)and materials will be hauled off site. Neighbors may experience some noise during demolition.

Demobilization Begins – Please Watch for Trucks
With the tunnel and pipeline complete, the contractor and staff will begin removing equipment and hauling it away. Please watch for additional truck traffic in the area. Please observe posted speed limits and watch for trucks entering the roadway.

Enjoy the weekend!

Possible Traffic Delays on Polhemus Road during the Week of February 14th

2011-02-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

The contractor for the SFPUC's New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel & Pipeline project will be performing trench work the week of February 14th on Polhemus Road near the South Shaft site between Bunker Hill and Crystal Springs in San Mateo.

The work is expected to take less than three days and will require one lane of traffic to be closed temporarily. A flag person will be on site to direct traffic.

The work may cause possible daytime traffic delays on Polhemus Road.

Thank you for your continued support while we upgrade your drinking water system.

Historical Photos of Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel and Pipeline in San Mateo

2011-02-10T10:48:00.000-08:00

Did you know the original Crystal Springs Bypass Pipeline near Polhemus Road in San Mateo was installed in 1969? We'd love to hear from any neighbors who remember the pipeline work or who lived in the area at the time. Enjoy!

Video: San Mateo Pipeline Project on ABC 7 News

2011-02-07T08:29:00.001-08:00

The New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel and Pipeline project was featured on ABC 7 on Friday, February 4th! It is an exclusive look inside the original Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel and includes some interesting historical and current photos of the project. Enjoy and please give us your feedback!

Successful Pipeline Shutdown in San Mateo to be featured on ABC 7 News on February 4th

2011-02-02T12:27:00.001-08:00

The recently completed Crystal Springs Bypass Pipeline Shutdown will be featured in an exclusive story on ABC 7 News this week. We believe it will air on Friday evening, February 4th. Check local listings for channel information.

ABC 7 reporter Ken Miguel interviewed project staff during the critical pipeline shutdown and walked through the original pipeline after it was drained in January.

If possible, we will post a link to the video story in case you miss it.

We hope you get a chance to watch the story and please share your comments with us!

Conduit Work on Polhemus Road - Possible Traffic Delays in late January/early February

2011-01-28T09:10:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is nearing completion on the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel & Pipeline near Polhemus Road in San Mateo. We expect to be substantially finished with construction by Spring 2011 with full project completion by Fall 2011.

Pipeline Shutdown Finishes Ahead of Schedule!!
Great news! The critical shutdown of the Crystal Springs Bypass Pipeline and connection of the new, seismically upgraded pipeline are complete ahead of schedule! THANK YOU to neighbors for your support during the three 24 hour work days/nights at the South Shaft site.

Conduit Work on Polhemus Rd - Possible Traffic Delays
Neighbors may experience some minor traffic delays on Polhemus Road between Bunker Hill and Crystal Springs Road beginning as early as the week of January 31st due to conduit work in the roadway. As required, traffic will be reduced to one-lane and a flag person will be on site to direct traffic.

Demobilization Begins – Please Watch for Trucks
With the tunnel and pipeline complete, the contractor and staff will begin removing equipment and hauling it away. Please watch for additional truck traffic in the area. Please observe posted speed limits and watch for trucks entering the roadway.

Water Treatment “Swimming Pool” to be Removed
The Water Treatment Facility at the South Shaft site, known by neighbors as the “Swimming Pool”, will be demolished starting in late January/early February and materials will be hauled off site.

Crews will continue to use dust control measures to control dust.

Pipeline Connection Work in San Mateo Nearing Completion Ahead of Schedule

2011-01-26T14:08:00.000-08:00

The New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel & Pipeline team are making excellent progress on the critical pipeline connection work near Polhemus Road in San Mateo.

If all goes well, they hope to complete the work ahead of schedule this week. We originally anticipated up to three weeks of work but our skilled crews and excellent team worked quickly and efficiently.

Neighbors, thank you again for your continued support and patience.

A reporter from a Bay Area news channel is working on an exclusive story about this shutdown project! Watch this blog for more info, channel and air dates! We will also post a link to the story on this blog.

Take Back the Tap: The Peninsula’s tap water is some of the purest in the world.

2011-01-21T13:55:00.000-08:00

Here is a great article by Alexis Petru of the Foster City Patch. It has been posted with permission of Alexis.

Every spring, snowpack in the central Sierra Nevada mountain range melts and feeds the Tuolumne River. A portion of the river’s water is diverted and stored in Yosemite National Park‘s Hetch Hetchy Valley, which became a reservoir when the O’Shaughnessy Dam was built and flooded the valley in the early 1900s. Carried by gravity, the water travels 160 miles down to the Bay Area and into the homes of people like you and me who live on the San Francisco Peninsula.

The water from the Tuolumne River is “some of the purest, safest and best-tasting water in the world,” says the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which operates the Hetch Hetchy water system. The SFPUC tests water throughout their system nearly 90,000 times a year and reports that their water consistently meets or exceeds all federal and state standards for drinking water.

Nearly every resident of San Mateo County receives their water through the SFPUC’s water system. Ninety-three percent of this water supply comes from the Tuolumne River, stored at the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and locally, along with rainwater, in the San Andreas, Crystal Springs and Pilarcitos reservoirs. The rest of the water supply comes from a variety of local sources—5 percent from groundwater and fewer than 2 percent from recycled water and locally operated reservoirs such as Bear Gulch.

Store-bought bottled water just can’t compete with the Peninsula’s excellent-quality tap water.

The National Resources Defense Council carried out a four-year study of bottled water and found that bottled water is not necessarily safer or cleaner than water from the tap. In fact, the environmental action group discovered that 25 percent of bottled water is just tap water in a bottle. After testing 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of bottled water, the group found that about 22 percent of the tested brands contained, in at least one sample, chemicals or bacteria in amounts above state health standards.

Bottled water also takes a heavy toll on the environment. Plastic bottles are made from oil, and the amount of oil and energy used to produce the plastic water bottles consumed annually in the U.S. would fuel a million cars for one year, according to Food and Water Watch. By contrast, the energy used to transport tap water from Hetch Hetchy to your home is minimal, as gravity moves water through the system. Because the water is so pure to begin with, there is also little energy expended to treat the water.

Bottled water creates 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year, according to the National Resources Defense Council. While recycling your old water bottle is certainly environmentally preferable to tossing it in the garbage, it still takes energy and resources to re-manufacture the water bottle into a new product. Purchasing a reusable bottle and re-filling it with tap water eliminates the need for all those plastic bottles. Remember, it’s always better to reduce and reuse before you recycle.

And need I mention the financial cost of bottled water? Bottled water is expensive, and you’re already paying your city or water provider for high-quality tap water.

If you still feel squeamish about drinking water directly from the tap, use a water filter to further improve the water’s taste and quality.

There is a time and a place for bottled water—in your home’s emergency kit or when traveling in a place with a questionable water supply. But the Peninsula’s water supply is truly exceptional—pristine water from the Sierra Nevada snowpack. Choosing our tap water over bottled water also has a lighter impact on the environment. So grab your reusable water bottle, and get ready to take back the tap.

Alexis Petru is a San Bruno resident who coordinates environmental programs for San Mateo County. Her column appears biweekly on Fridays.

http://fostercity.patch.com/articles/take-back-the-tap-2

Neighbors near Polhemus Road: Thank You for Your Support

2011-01-20T10:15:00.001-08:00

The New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel and Pipeline team would like to say a huge THANK YOU to our neighbors near Polhemus Road in San Mateo for your continued support during this important water pipeline connection work.

With 24 hour work taking place near your homes, we realize you may be experiencing some noise and bright lights at night.

The crews and project team are making excellent progress and hope to complete the connection work earlier than anticipated. We have an excellent, highly skilled team of people working hard to finish these critical activities quickly and efficiently.

THANK YOU again for your continued support and patience.

Have you ever seen water pipes so large you can walk through them? Here is a recent photo, taken this week at the South Shaft site off of Polhemus Road, of the crews preparing to connect the pipes.

Pipeline Shutdown Work in San Mateo Making Excellent Progress

2011-01-18T08:48:00.000-08:00

Staff and work crews at the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel site in San Mateo are making excellent progress in the first days of the important pipeline work to connect the New Crystal Springs Bypass Pipeline to our larger water system.

Here is a photo taken on Monday, January 17th of a worker accessing the pipeline.

Work will take place at the South Shaft site near Polhemus Road 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for approximately 3 weeks to complete this critical work as quickly as possible.

Neighbors may experience some noise from the crane and equipment.

We do not anticipate any interruption to your water service. This important work is necessary to connect pipelines for your water supply.

Questions or concerns: Please contact us toll-free, 24 hour, 7 days per week for information, questions or comments about the project: 866-973-1476.
Or call SFPUC Communications: 650-212-0165 (weekdays) Email: newcstunnel@sfwater.org, website: www.sfwater.org/wsip.

Pipeline Shutdown Work Begins This Weekend near Polhemus Road in San Mateo

2011-01-14T09:18:00.001-08:00

Starting on or around Monday, January 17th, 2011, the contractor will perform critical work to connect the New Crystal Springs Bypass Pipeline to our larger water system. These important pipeline connection activities at the South Shaft site near Polhemus Road will require crews to work up to 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for approximately 3 weeks to complete this critical work as quickly as possible. Neighbors may experience some noise from the crane and equipment.

Tunnel ventilation equipment, including an air compressor, will be in use at the South Shaft during the day on Sunday, January 16th. A small crew will be on site most of the day on Sunday.

Additional environmental training focused on minimizing noise, especially at nighttime, was conducted for all workers on site.

We do not anticipate any interruption to your water service. This important work is necessary to connect pipelines for your water supply.

Questions or Concerns: Please contact us toll-free, 24 hour, 7 days per week for information, questions or comments about the project: 866-973-1476.
Or SFPUC Communications: 650-212-0165 (weekdays) Email: newcstunnel@sfwater.org, website: www.sfwater.org/wsip.

Pipeline Activity Starting This Week near Polhemus Road in San Mateo

2011-01-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Neighbors near the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project located on Polhemus Road in San Mateo may start to notice additional activity at the North and South Shaft sites starting this week.

Several workers from the SFPUC/SF Water Department's Water Supply & Treatment Division will be performing 24-hour pipeline de-watering and treatment work at both the North and South Shaft sites starting today through the 9th. Downward-facing lights will be in use at night.

Neighbors may see SFPUC/SF Water Department trucks and cars on site and at various locations along Polhemus Road and Crystal Springs Road.

Be sure to wave 'hello' if you are a neighbor!

Please remember to follow the posted 10 MPH speed limit at our North Shaft site located on Crystal Springs Road near Polhemus. Safety is important and the workers, cyclists and pedestrians really appreciate you driving slowly and safely in the posted speed limit zone.

Watch this blog for updates as the pipeline connection work progresses!

New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel: Pipeline Connection Activities and 24-Hour Work

2010-12-30T13:01:00.000-08:00

In January and February 2011, the SFPUC and its contractor will be performing water pipeline connection activities at the North Shaft (Crystal Springs Road at Polhemus Road) and the South Shaft (Polhemus Road between Bunker Hill and Crystal Springs Road)in San Mateo.

Several workers from the SFPUC’s Water Supply & Treatment Division will be performing 24-hour pipeline de-watering and treatment work at both the North and South Shaft sites starting on or around January 4th through the 9th. Downward-facing lights will be in use at night during this time.

Workers and staff will be at the North and South Shaft sites and along Polhemus Road at various times from January 3rd through the 17th to prepare for pipeline connection activities. Tunnel ventilation equipment, including an air compressor, will be in use at the South Shaft during the day on Sunday, January 16th.

Starting on or around January 17th, 2011, the contractor will perform critical work to connect the new pipeline to our water system. These important pipeline connection activities at the South Shaft site will require crews to work up to 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for approximately 3 weeks to complete this critical work as quickly as possible. Neighbors may experience some noise from the crane and equipment.

Additional environmental training focused on minimizing noise, especially at nighttime, is being conducted for all workers on site.

We do not anticipate any interruption to your water service. This important work is necessary to connect pipelines for your water supply.

Questions or Concerns: Please contact us toll-free, 24 hour, 7 days per week for information, questions or comments about the project: 866-973-1476.
Or SFPUC Communications: 650-212-0165 (weekdays) Email: newcstunnel@sfwater.org, website: www.sfwater.org/wsip.

Happy Holidays from the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel Team

2010-12-22T08:34:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays from the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel team. We appreciate your interest, support and patience during this important water project.

We wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season and a very happy 2011.

Great Conversation and Coffee in San Mateo!

2010-12-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

Thank You to the many neighbors near the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel site in San Mateo who joined the project team for coffee at Starbucks at Crystal Springs Village on December 16th.

We enjoyed talking with you, answering your questions and hearing your feedback.

For those of you who addressed questions about the nearby horse stables, we have contacted the SFPUC Real Estate Services Division and they will follow up directly with you soon.

We will continue to provide regular updates about the upcoming pipeline shutdown and the 24/7 work coming in mid-January 2011.

Thank you again for stopping by!

We wish you and your families a very happy holiday season.

New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel - Join us for Coffee on December 16th!

2010-12-02T12:57:00.000-08:00

Join us for Coffee on December 16th, 2010

Please join us for coffee on Thursday, December 16th from 9:30am to 11:30am at Starbucks Coffee in Crystal Springs Village, located at 100 De Anza Blvd, #111, San Mateo.

Chat with the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project team, ask questions and learn more about the upcoming pipeline connection work taking place in January 2011.

We will also have information about other SFPUC Water System Improvement Program (WSIP)projects taking place near the Sawyer Camp Trail.

Local Students Learn about Engineering and Teamwork at the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel Project

2010-11-22T10:52:00.001-08:00

After driving by the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel site in San Mateo for several years, Dr. John Venuti, the Director of Information Technology at nearby Crystal Springs Uplands School, arranged a site visit for a group of his top senior students.

Strong in math and considering careers in engineering, the students met with project staff and learned about engineering and construction careers associated with the project.

Students learned about the importance of the Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) to rebuild and upgrade the Hetch Hetchy water system before the next major earthquake strikes the San Francisco Bay Area. They were excited to learn that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is using social media such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to educate the public about the WSIP and many other projects.

Blake Rothfuss, assistant construction manager and consulting engineer with Jacobs Associates, told the students how the new tunnel was created using a tunnel boring machine. He explained the advantages of boring the tunnel and placing the pipeline deep underground, deeper than the original, near-surface pipeline to improve its performance during an earthquake. “Planning, commitment, advanced engineering and teamwork are needed to successfully complete unique tunnel projects like this one,” said Blake.

SFPUC civil engineer Holly Chan talked about the importance of teamwork and how working together moves the project forward successfully. After graduating from San Francisco State University with a master’s degree in civil engineering, Holly has been able to put her engineering skills to the test by working on this complex and often difficult tunnel project. “It can be hard sometimes, but we work together and figure out the best way through a problem,” said Holly.

“These students are setting their sights on careers in engineering,” said Dr. Venuti. “Talking with successful engineers working on a huge project like this is really a great benefit for them.”

Article: So San Francisco Doesn't Go Thirsty

2010-11-18T10:34:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this interesting article from Tunnels & Tunnelling International magazine, "So San Francisco Doesn't go Thirsty" about the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project in San Mateo.

https://infrastructure.sfwater.org/fds/fds.aspx?lib=SFPUC&doc=627689&ver=1&data=241660265

Lower Crystal Springs Dam Project: Informational Meeting on November 16, 2010

2010-11-15T11:16:00.000-08:00

Please join us for an informational meeting about the Lower Crystal Springs Dam on Tuesday, November 16th at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Hillsborough Town Hall at 1600 Floribunda Avenue.

San Mateo County has recently closed the Skyline Bridge (on top of the Lower Crystal Springs Dam between Crystal Springs Road and Bunker Hill Drive) to begin demolition work.

Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System construction projects will begin shortly near the dam and the Sawyer Camp Trail. You may contact us with questions or comments 24 hours a day at (866) 973-1476.

Temporary Night Work Coming in January 2011 at New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel

2010-11-12T16:05:00.000-08:00

Starting on or around January 15, 2011, the contractor for the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project will perform critical work to connect the new pipeline to our water system.

These important pipeline connection activities at the South Shaft site off of Polhemus Road in San Mateo will require crews to work up to 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for approximately 3 weeks to complete this critical work as quickly as possible.

Neighbors may experience some noise from the crane and equipment.

We do not anticipate any interruption to your water service. Detailed information, including exact dates, work schedule, work hours and contact information will be provided in advance.

This important work is necessary to connect pipelines for your water supply and ensure water delivery after a major earthquake.

Skyline Bridge Closed

2010-11-01T15:01:00.000-07:00

San Mateo County has closed Skyline Bridge (the bridge atop Lower Crystal Springs Dam on Skyline Blvd. between Crystal Springs Rd. and Bunker Hill Dr.) in order to begin the bridge replacement project. The Vista Parking area, near the southern trailhead of Sawyer Camp Trail, is also closed.

While Skyline Bridge is closed through 2013, cyclists will be detoured along Crystal Springs Road to Polhemus Road and then to the Ralston Recreation Trail. Motorists have several detour options, including use of Highway 92 and Interstate 280.

San Mateo County and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) are coordinating construction projects in and around the Peninsula Watershed from autumn 2010 through 2013. For a comprehensive fact sheet about the projects and to view the detour route: http://bit.ly/cy6LRt

For updates, you can sign up for the Sawyer Camp Trail blog (http://www.sawyercamptrail.blogspot.com), or to the Twitter account dedicated to the recreational users of the Peninsula Watershed: www.Twitter.com/SawyerCampTrail

Fall/Winter 2010 Update: New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel

2010-10-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

At left is an image of the completed pipeline.

Here is what neighbors can expect in October & November:

Surface pipeline testing work will take place into November.

Roof work will continue on the vaults at the South Shaft site.

In between rain, dust control measures are in place to reduce the amount of dust near our construction site.

The meadow area behind the trailers at the South Shaft site has been regraded. Native grass and plant seeds will be broadcast in the next month.

In January 2011, important pipeline connection activities will require additional work hours at night for approximately 2 weeks. More information and details will be provided in advance.

One Final Weekend to Enjoy the View - Skyline Bridge Replacement Project Update

2010-10-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

One Final Weekend to Enjoy the View - Skyline Bridge Replacement Project Update

San Mateo County has announced that this weekend, October 23rd and 24th, is last weekend to enjoy the view from the Skyline Bridge. The contractor, Ferma Corporation, plans to close the road on Monday, October 25th in order to begin the demolition. The replacement bridge is scheduled for a 2013 completion. (The bridge is atop the Lower Crystal Springs Dam on Skyline Blvd. between Crystal Springs Rd. and Bunker Hill Dr.).

To view the detour route: http://bit.ly/cy6LRt

Vista Parking area, adjacent to the bridge and the southern trailhead of Sawyer Camp Trail, will also close next week.

Please subscribe to this blog for updates or follow us on Twitter:
www.Twitter.com/SawyerCampTrail

Summer/Fall 2010 Update: New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel

2010-08-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

Summer/Fall 2010 Update: Making Progress!

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is making significant progress on the completion of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel & Pipeline near Polhemus Road in San Mateo. As of the end of July 2010, the project has reached 81% completion! We’re on schedule and making excellent progress. We expect full completion in Fall 2011.

Grouting and related underground work inside the tunnel will be completed this month and surface pipe work will take place into November.

Dust control measures are in place to reduce the amount of dust near our construction sites. Additional sprinklers are in use in the muck disposal area and near the stables.

In January 2011, important pipeline connection activities will require additional work hours at night for approximately 2 weeks. More information and details will be provided in advance.

Other Peninsula Projects
San Mateo County will be closing Skyline Bridge in late September 2010. For more information, visit www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/portal/site/publicworks.

Photograph: Welding steel pipe inside the tunnel. Photograph taken by Katherine Du Tiel.

Liberty Mutual Group Honors New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel Team with Prestigious Safety Award

2010-08-24T15:06:00.000-07:00

Liberty Mutual Group Honors New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel Team with Prestigious Safety Award

Insurance company representatives typically visit a construction site because of a personal injury, accident, claim or property loss.

When Bob Snyder and Joe Puente of Liberty Mutual Group visited the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel construction site in San Mateo on Friday, August 20th, there was reason to celebrate.

Shank/Balfour Beatty (S/BB), the contractor for the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project, was presented with a Commendation Award by insurance company Liberty Mutual Group. The prestigious award recognizes S/BB’s achievement of working over 165,000 hours without a recordable injury since beginning the project in December 2008 through July 2010. This is a huge accomplishment and honor, especially considering the hazards associated with underground construction. S/BB sunk two construction shafts 156 feet and 56 feet deep, then excavated a 12 foot diameter tunnel approximately 4,200 feet long between shafts. Following tunnel completion, 96-inch diameter welded steel pipe was installed in the tunnel and shafts. The pipeline was tied into the Sunset Supply Pipeline in January 2010 and the final tie-in to the Crystal Springs Bypass Pipeline is scheduled for January 2011.

“It is my pleasure to present this Commendation Award to the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel team for your excellent safety record,” said Bob Snyder, Loss Control Manager of Liberty Mutual Group. “This is only the third award I’ve given this year. Congratulations to the managers and workers who deserve recognition for such a great achievement. ”

“This award demonstrates the success of our Water System Improvement Program safety policy,” said Alan Johanson, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Regional Construction Manager. “Everyone on this team deserves recognition for consistently following safety policies on the job site.”

“Safety is a top priority,” said S/BB Safety Manager David Tompkins. “It is quite an achievement to work this many hours on a complex construction project without any recordable injuries. I am extremely proud of this team.”

Project Construction Manager Victor Romero of Jacobs Associates commented that the project’s excellent safety performance is the result of realistic hazard recognition, effective planning and communication, and excellent teamwork among all personnel working on the project.

The project is approximately 80% complete and on track to reach substantial completion by fall 2011.

Golf Balls on Construction Site can be Dangerous

2010-08-10T09:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Golf Lovers near South Shaft construction site,

The New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project team has been finding a number of golf balls at the South Shaft construction site off of Polhemus Road in San Mateo. The project team believes the golf balls are coming from nearby homes above the construction site.

While we understand and share a love for golf, the project team would like to remind neighbors that golf balls can pose a significant danger to workers and construction equipment at the construction site.

Fast moving golf balls can strike workers, staff or cause significant damage to construction equipment such as cranes, cars and machinery, which can cause further injury to people.

We respectfully request that who ever is hitting these golf balls toward the construction site to stop immediately.

Thank you,
New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project team

TONIGHT: Early Morning Delivery at South Shaft site at Polhemus Rd in San Mateo

2010-08-09T10:37:00.001-07:00

Early Morning Delivery to South Shaft Site in San Mateo - TONIGHT
In the early morning of Tuesday, August 10th, at approximately 1 or 2 am, a large semi-truck and flatbed trailer will arrive at the South Shaft site off of Polhemus Road and park near the office trailers. A large, special pipe section is being delivered. Because of the size of the load, the truck must travel during nighttime hours only.

The truck will pull into the main gate, drive up the paved road to the office trailer parking lot, the truck will be shut down, and will remain parked there until 7:00 am or later at which time the truck will be unloaded when the workday begins.

Several California Highway Patrol cars will accompany this special permit truck load. The Highway Patrol will temporarily close Polhemus Road for a few minutes during the delivery and reopen it as soon as the truck is off the road. Because this will take place during early morning hours, traffic delays are not anticipated.

Every effort will be made to avoid noise during delivery so not to disrupt neighbors.

Early Morning Delivery to South Shaft Site - Tuesday, August 10th

2010-08-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

Early Morning Delivery to South Shaft Site - Tuesday, August 10th
In the early morning of Tuesday, August 10th, at approximately 1 or 2 am, a large semi-truck and flatbed trailer will arrive at the South Shaft site off of Polhemus Road and park near the office trailers. A large, special pipe section is being delivered. Because of the size of the load, the truck must travel during nighttime hours only. The truck will pull into the main gate, drive up the paved road to the office trailer parking lot, the truck will be shut down, and will remain parked there until 7:00 am or later at which time the truck will be unloaded when the workday begins.

Several California Highway Patrol cars will accompany this special permit truck load. The Highway Patrol will temporarily close Polhemus Road for a few minutes during the delivery and reopen it as soon as the truck is off the road. Because this will take place during early morning hours, traffic delays are not anticipated.

Every effort will be made to avoid noise during delivery so not to disrupt neighbors.

ALERT: Power Cable May Cause Firecracker-Like Noise on August 5th at 10 A.M.

2010-08-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

ALERT: Power Cable May Cause Firecracker-Like Noise on August 5th at 10 A.M.

On Thursday, August 5th, at approximately 10 a.m., the contractor will pull a power and communication cable across the creek from Polhemus Road to the North Shaft site, located on Crystal Springs Road near the intersection with Polhemus. The contractor anticipates that the activity will generate a single, loud blast sound, similar to that of a firecracker. Since the work will be near the creek, it will be monitored by a service approved biologist. Temporary road closures or traffic delays are not anticipated. All necessary safety measure will be in place.

What: Firecracker-like noise associated with cable installation.

When: Approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 5, 2010

Where: Near the intersection of Polhemus Road and Crystal Springs Road

Impacts to Neighbors: some neighbors may hear the firecracker-like noise. Traffic and road closures are not anticipated. Watch the blog listed below for updates. The activity is not expected to cause any vibration to nearby structures.

New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project at 79% Completion!

2010-07-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

Great news! As of the end of June 2010, the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project has reached 79% completion! The project team reports we are making excellent progress.

Installation and welding of steel pipe in the tunnel took only 4 weeks, which was less than half the time anticipated, and was completed at the end of May. Placement of backfill around the tunnel pipe was completed last week. After pipe cleaning, vertical pipe will be installed and backfilled in the South Shaft and contact grouting will be performed.

Here is a great photo taken from the bottom of the South Shaft site. Workers are guiding the new pipeline into the tunnel. You can see just how large this pipeline is when you look at these 6 foot tall men standing next to it!

Remember, you can call our 24 hour, toll free number if you ever have a question or a concern at any time of the day or night. We are here to help. The number is 866-973-1476.

Additional Dust Control Measures

2010-07-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

With the beautiful summer weather finally here, the project team has added additional sprinklers at the South Shaft site to further control dust.

The project team will continue to monitor dust and adjust control measures as needed.

If you're concerned about dust or have any comments, feel free to contact our staff anytime at 650-212-0165 or 24 hours, 7 days a week toll free at 866-973-1476.

South Shaft Activity

2010-06-22T15:45:00.000-07:00

There will be new activity at the South Shaft Site beginning Wednesday morning.

The contractor will be installing shoring for the excavations necessary to install a new pipeline. Strict vibration criteria and monitoring will be followed throughout the process, so the construction management team does not expect much noise.

Just wanted to let you know because you may see some changes on the work site. Of course, let us know if you have questions or concerns.

SFPUC and Shank/Balfour Beatty Sponsor Pipeline Confined Space Rescue Training on Peninsula

2010-05-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

This Spring, representatives from several Peninsula fire agencies participated in a rescue training exercise within a vault and pipeline being constructed by Shank/Balfour Beatty, the contractor on the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project in San Mateo.

The training exercise simulated a medical emergency in which a pipeline worker suffered a heart attack while painting a 60-inch diameter butterfly valve within the pipeline. None of the firefighters had ever been inside any of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's (SFPUC) pipelines or vaults.

Firefighters arrived on site, were briefed by the contractor’s liaison, and then performed a permit-required confined space entry. Medics provide initial treatment to the “victim” adjacent to the valve, then packaged and transitioned the victim through a 24-inch diameter manhole into the vault. Due to limited overhead clearance, the “victim” was again transitioned and hoisted through a hatch in the roof deck where he was treated by the medical team and prepared for air transport. The training exercise was completed in about 2 hours.

Carl Kustin, Lead Instructor for trainers Lea & Associates, said “The SFPUC and Shank/Balfour Beatty provided a once in a lifetime opportunity for firefighters to train in an environment where SFPUC employees and contractors work every day. We hope there’s NEVER a need for our services, but when that time comes, the firefighters in this class are much better prepared to quickly access an injured pipeline worker. This was an exceptional training day!”

Representatives from the following agencies participated in the training: San Mateo Fire Department, South San Francisco Fire Department, Burlingame Fire Department, Central (San Mateo) County Fire, Mountain View Fire Department, South (San Mateo) County Fire, Menlo Park Fire District, San Jose Fire Department, SF General Hospital, and the California Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 3 (Menlo Park).

Join us for Coffee on May 20th - tomorrow!

2010-05-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

Join us for a Community Coffee at Starbucks on May 20th

Please join us for coffee and casual discussion on Thursday, May 20th from 9:30am to 11am at Starbucks Coffee in Crystal Springs Village, located at 100 De Anza Blvd, #111, San Mateo.

Chat with the project team, ask questions and learn more about this project. Free coffee! Yippee!

Stormwater pollution prevention and erosion control on the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel Project

2010-04-30T14:47:00.000-07:00

photos of top layer, showing erosion control blanket

Last Saturday and early this week the contractor installed some very visible Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater pollution prevention and erosion control in the muck disposal area on the upper terrace of the South Shaft Site. This erosion control blanket helps prevent stormwater pollution and will also help with dust control as summer approaches. Eventually the blankets will be replaced by topsoil and revegetation.

New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel - What to Expect the Next 6 Months

2010-04-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

What Neighbors Can Expect the Next Six Months at the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel site:

Removal of TBM components from the South Shaft site.
Installation and welding of steel pipe in the tunnel and South Shaft.
Construction of near-surface vaults, pipelines and miscellaneous equipment at South Shaft site and off of Polhemus Road.
Final grading of muck disposal area at the South Shaft site.
Re-vegetation of muck disposal area with native plant seed mixes prior to the Fall rainy season. Temporary dust control measures will be implemented.

If you ever have questions, you can call our toll-free, 24 hour phone at 866-973-1476.

Tunnel Excavation is Complete!!

2010-03-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

At 9am on March 24th, 2010, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) reached the North Shaft site and excavation of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel is now complete!!

A new steel pipe will soon be installed inside the 4,200 foot long tunnel to provide a critical link in the Hetch Hetchy water system.

The new pipeline will also help to ensure water delivery after a major earthquake.

TBM Expected to Reach North Shaft Within Hours!

2010-03-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) excavating the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel is expected to reach the North Shaft site in a matter of hours!

The project team expects the TBM could finish as early as tomorrow, March 24th.

Watch this blog for updates!

Tunnel Boring Machine to Reach North Shaft Very Soon!

2010-03-17T14:29:00.001-07:00

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) boring the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel is expected to reach the North Shaft site very soon!

The project team expects the TBM to finish boring next week - most likely on or around the 25th of March.

The TBM is boring a 4,200 foot long tunnel for a critical water pipeline that will help ensure water delivery after a major earthquake.

We will keep you updated on the tunnel completion and next steps in this important project.

SFPUC Labor Relations Efforts Paying Off During Economic Downturn

2010-03-02T10:40:00.000-08:00

New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel contractor Shank/Balfour Beatty has 27% of its workforce hours in apprenticeship, exceeding the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards requirement of 20%, according to the WSIP Labor Relations Office. The contractor is also providing tunneling equipment on loan to the Northern California Laborers Apprenticeship Program for use in training programs, reports Ardis Graham, Project Labor Agreement Administrator.

The New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel is one of SFPUC’s water system improvement projects, and is covered under the WSIP’s Project Labor Agreement (PLA).

For crane and equipment apprentice Simon Streeter and welding apprentice Justin Stephens, the PLA’s initiatives have resulted in opportunities to learn new, transferable skills through the Tunnel project. “We’re learning from guys with many years of experience. They look out for us. It is great to be employed in a good paying job where I learn something new each day,” said Streeter. Both men are residents in the WSIP service area.

Photos: Simon Streeter (top) and Justin Stephens (bottom).

Modern Artwork or the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel?

2010-02-24T15:57:00.000-08:00

North Shaft replacement pipeline Tee looking toward butterfly valve.

South Shaft looking up.

South Shaft looking down.

Photos courtesy of Jacobs Associates

New Toll-Free, 24 hour, 7 day per week Phone Number

2010-02-22T09:59:00.001-08:00

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has a new toll-free, 24 hour a day, 7 day per week phone number for calls about our Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) projects.

You can now call 866-973-1476 anytime for information about the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project and other WSIP projects.

This number does not replace our local 650-212-0165 number, which rings to our offices at the South Shaft site, the 866 number is just one additional way to reach us at any time.

SFPUC General Manager Ed Harrington Tours New CS Tunnel site

2010-02-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) General Manager Ed Harrington toured the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel construction site on Thursday, February 18th.

Ed was joined by Regional Project Manager Husam Masri and New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel Construction Manager Sarah Wilson.

They toured the South Shaft site and discussed the progress of the tunnel boring machine (TBM), which has passed the half-way point in the tunneling process. The TBM is expected to reach the North Shaft site in March.

Pictured (left to right): SFPUC General Manager Ed Harrington, Construction Manager Sarah Wilson and Regional Project Manager Husam Masri.

Tunneling Reaches 50% Completion Milestone

2010-02-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

Great News!

As of Friday, February 5th, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) has reached the approximate half-way point in boring the 4,200 foot long New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel.

After a few minor problems and delays in December, the TBM is now making great progress.

Tunnel completion is expected this Spring.

TBM Making Excellent Progress!

2010-01-26T12:10:00.000-08:00

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) boring the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel continues to make excellent progress.

As of Monday, January 25th, tunneling has progressed 1,715 feet out of approximately 4200 feet (41%).

The recent earthquakes in California and around the world are a good reminder that a major earthquake can (and likely will) strike the San Francisco Bay Area at any time. This new tunnel will help ensure water delivery and quality after a major earthquake.
Photo: TBM body and cutter head.

Pipeline Dewatering to Begin near Tartan Trail Road

2010-01-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

In late January 2010, the SFPUC and its contractors are planning to drain a water pipeline located off of Tartan Trail Road in Hillsborough as part of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project located on Polhemus Road. Please see map for detailed location of work.

The dewatering of the pipeline is necessary for the eventual completion of a new critical pipeline to carry water under Polhemus Road and to ensure delivery of drinking water after a major earthquake.

What Neighbors near Tartan Trail Road Can Expect:
SFPUC and contractor crews will mobilize equipment in late January and park trucks on the existing gravel parking area off of Tartan Trail Road on SFPUC Right of Way property (please see map on reverse for location).
Dewatering will take place 150’ north of Tartan Trail Road and will take place 7 days per week. Crews may be on site 7 days a week between 7am and 6pm.
Overhead tree limbs will be moved for construction access and allowed to return to original position. Minor limbs may be removed to prevent safety issues. The dewatering site will keep wildlife from harm by installing an exclusion fence adjacent to San Mateo Creek.
Approximately six people will be on site daily for the first week, with fewer on site during the remainder of the work.
Dewatering activities will include use of a crane, trucks, a WhisperWatt generator and pumps. Water will be safely discharged into San Mateo Creek following all environmental guidelines as specified by regulatory agencies.
The use of equipment for this project is not expected to exceed noise limits established by the Town of Hillsborough. Mitigations for noise such as acoustical blankets will be provided if needed to conform to noise limits.
Activities will take place at this site into April 2010. Upon completion, crews will remove all equipment.

Tragic Earthquake in Haiti a Shocking Reminder to Store Water and Be Prepared

2010-01-15T13:11:00.000-08:00

The devastating and tragic 7.0 earthquake in Haiti on January 12th is a shocking reminder for all of us to be prepared for a major earthquake to strike the San Francisco Bay Area at any time.

Store at least one gallon of water per person per day to last at least three days after a major disaster. Store additional water for houseguests and pets. Store water away from sunlight and heat and replace every six months. Learn more about getting prepared by visiting http://www.72hours.org/.

New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel Staffer Helping on the Ground in Haiti
Blake Rothfuss, a Lead Quality Assurance/Safety Inspector with Jacobs Associates on the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project in San Mateo is in Haiti serving as a Structures Specialist with FEMA's Urban Search & Rescue Team (USAR). His team checks buildings for victims and helps safely remove debris to access trapped survivors.

Neighbors Tour South Shaft Site Following 4.1 Earthquake

2010-01-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

Just minutes before the start of their New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel South Shaft tour on January 7th, San Mateo neighbors Howard McDonel, Helmut Schagerer, Erwin Hagele and Nick Lolonis heard about the 4.1 earthquake epicentered on the Calaveras Fault near Milpitas. Howard felt it, while the others did not. They toured the construction site and discussed engineering and construction methods being used to build the tunnel and pipeline.

The relatively small earthquake is a good reminder of the race against time the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission faces to seismically upgrade the aging Hetch Hetchy water system before the next big earthquake.

San Francisco Bay Area residents can get prepared for the next big earthquake by storing at least one gallon of water per person to last at least 3 days following an earthquake. Learn more at http://www.72hours.org/.

Pictured: Victor Romero, Sarah Wilson, Bill Silverfarb, Helmut Schagerer, Nick Lolonis, Howard McDonel and Erwin Hagele.

Here is a link to the San Mateo Daily Journal article: http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=122503

San Andreas Pipeline No. 3 to Begin Full Construction in Daly City

2010-01-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

This week Mountain Cascade Inc, the contractor working for the SFPUC will begin the 36" water pipeline installation on Wilshire Drive in Daly City's Westlake District with ongoing construction along Sheffield Drive to John Daly Boulevard.

Work at the Lake Merced Golf Course heading south to the San Pedro Valve lot will be ongoing from February to July 2010.

Work hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

For more information on this project, please visit www.sfwater.org/sanandreas3

Possible Night Work in early January

2009-12-31T10:24:00.000-08:00

The New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel contractor has been making necessary adjustments to the tunnel boring machine (TBM) inside the shaft. In early January 2010, limited crews may work into the evening. If night work needs to occur, we will provide dates and times as soon as possible. If the contractor continues to need more time to meet the project schedule, crews could work longer evenings going forward into the early Spring.

During this night work, the majority of activities take place inside the shaft and tunnel. The crane and site lights may be used. The project team will follow all required nighttime noise limits as specified in the project Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Some soil may be lifted from the shaft but will not be relocated to the upper terrace until the following daytime shift.

We will continue to have on-call staff monitoring the situation. You may call our 24 hour dispatch 650-872-5900.

New Video Highlights WSIP Progress

2009-12-28T14:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a new video highlighting the progress we are making in rebuilding and seismically retrofitting the Hetch Hetchy water system.

North Shaft Update

2009-12-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

At the North Shaft Site of the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project, vault work is nearing completion.

The valves and pipes within the vault have now been installed and the cast-in-place concrete foundation and walls have been poured.

Tunnel boring continues from the South Shaft, heading in the direction of the North Shaft.

The project team wishes everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.

Did You Know? Way Cool Stats about the TBM

2009-12-18T10:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, I admit that these stats are way cool, even for non-engineers.

The tunnel boring machine (TBM) in use to create the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel has 23 disc cutters in the cutterhead and they are each 17 inches in diameter.

It has a torque of 593,920 foot-lbs and an operating thrust of 1,150,000 lbs operating.

It has 5 gantry cars in its trailing gear, 2 muck conveyors and the total length of the shield and trailing gear is 155 feet.

Here is a photo showing part of its 155 foot long length during assembly in September.

TBM Making Progress in Tunnel!

2009-12-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

The tunnel boring machine (TBM) at the South Shaft location is making progress creating the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel!

As of this week, the TBM has mined 401 feet so far, and with the starter tunnel distance included, that brings us to 532 feet or 12.4% complete.

Here is a photo from the bottom of the South Shaft.

Happy Holidays from the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project staff

2009-12-04T12:16:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays from the New Crystal Springs Bypass Tunnel project staff. We appreciate your interest, support and patience during this important project.

We wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season.

Night Work Nov 24-25, 30 and Dec 1st

2009-11-20T14:39:00.000-08:00

As you know, the contractor has been making necessary adjustments to the tunnel boring machine (TBM) inside the shaft during weeknights. The TBM is now launched! On Nov 24-25, 30 and Dec 1st, limited crews will work until approximately 11pm. At this time, the contractor does not plan to work on Thursday or Friday. If the contractor continues to need more time to meet the project schedule, crews could work longer evenings in December.

During this night work, the majority of activities take place inside the shaft and tunnel. The crane and site lights may be used. The project team will follow all required nighttime noise limits as specified in the project Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Some soil may be lifted from the shaft but will not be relocated to the upper terrace until the following daytime shift.

We will continue to have on-call staff monitoring the situation. You may call our 24 hour dispatch 650-872-5900.