VALDOSTA — As a result of ongoing construction of a force main sewer system in the city this week, the City of Valdosta is encouraging motorists who travel Gornto Road to seek a temporary alternate route. 

Installation of the force sewer main under a portion of Gornto Road, adjacent to the YMCA, will begin on Aug. 12 and is expected to be completed by Aug. 21, weather permitting. Work will be performed daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. After 5 p.m. each day, the road will re-open to two-way traffic. 

Due to the nature of the work, traffic on Gornto Road will be reduced to one lane between the railroad tracks and the main entrance of the YMCA.  Motorists are urged to take an alternate route during the construction, leaving only those who must travel that route to a minimum.  Motorists who must travel the impacted portion of Gornto Road should allow additional travel time to account for the expected traffic delays, officials said. 

 The construction involves a 15-foot wide cut across the three lanes of Gornto Road to make way for the installation of the new force main. The  section of sewer main will connect the new Gornto Lift Station, being constructed adjacent to the YMCA, to the force main that will soon be installed along Sherwood Drive. The Sherwood Drive pipe installation is expect to begin in late August. The City of Valdosta project broke ground in June 2014 and is five months ahead of schedule, say city officials.  The project includes the construction of a 6.2-mile force main, four new pump stations, and a new headworks structure and  six million gallon flow equalization basin to be located at the site of the new Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The work, coupled with the construction of the new WWTP which according to city officials is 16 months ahead of schedule, has been designed to address sewer overflows in flood-prone areas of the city during heavy rain events, according a press release from the city. 

City officials said that during recent heavy rains, the sewer collection system has experienced no overflows or spills. The city released a statement this week that said, “This can be attributed to the millions of dollars in recent improvement projects that the city has implemented and the progress from these efforts that have allowed the system to operate in compliance under heavy demand. In addition, an aggressive manhole repair and replacement project and the lining and replacement of existing lines have paid dividends by reducing inflow and infiltration into the collection system.” Traffic boards are in place on Gornto Road to alert the traveling public of the construction beginning Aug. 12. 

For more information, contact the Utilities Department at (229) 259-3592 or visit www.valdostacity.com/utilities for updates.