Sawyer Camp Trail: Construction Update

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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.