Water And Traffic Don’t Mix
Sonora, CA — Laying pipeline in Columbia could cause 20 minute delays for travelers. On Monday,
Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) will start water line Improvements to the Big Hill-Columbia Water system. Crews will be laying 7,200 linear feet of 8-inch water pipeline at Big Hill, Sawmill Flat and Yankee Hill Roads. For motorists that means one-way traffic controls at Big Hill Road from 7am to 5pm with possibly 20 minute delays during the construction.
The TUD Board approved the project in June at an estimated cost of $681,712. District Officials say this project was needed to continue to supply water to the residents of Columbia after an inspection found its tank to be in poor condition.
TUD lists the project’s benefits below:
• Eventually the elimination of the Columbia Vista Tank
• Allow water from Big Hill to serve customers in the Columbia and Sonora Water Systems
• Alleviate demand pressure on the Columbia Water Treatment Plant in order to facilitate repairs at the plant
• The project will dramatically improve fire protection within the Columbia State Historic Park which is very vulnerable to fire
• The water main line connection allows for increased redundancy and reliability. Currently, if a pipeline breaks on Italian Bar Road the whole town of Columbia would be out of water
The project is projected to be completed at the end of October.
