The city is planning to move right away on the replacement of the Takhini trunk line to avoid any potential harm should another major landslide occur on the escarpment.

City engineer Taylor Eshpeter and Gareth Earl, the associate manager of engineering services, held a briefing Tuesday afternoon to explain the scope and timing of the project.

The intent is to issue a tender next month, followed by the contract award in April, according to an administrative report prepared for city council’s meeting Monday night.

It’s expected the work will be completed by the end of the year.

Council is being asked to approve an amendment to the city’s capital budget to cover the cost of the work, estimated at $9.75 million.

Council is scheduled to vote on the budget amendment next Monday.

The city spent an estimated $2.3 million last year dealing with April’s landslide that closed down Robert Service Way for several weeks.

To assist with the unexpected cost, the Yukon government announced Monday it’s providing $2 million to the city (see story, p. 3).

The ongoing fear is that should another slide happen in the area along the slope behind the Pepsi Softball Complex, it could take out the sewer main that services the Takhini, McIntyre and Copper Ridge subdivisions.

The main sewer trunk was inspected last June following the landslide along Robert Service Way.

During the inspection, a tension crack was discovered similar to others noted along the escarpment that were associated with the landslide on Robert Service Way.

“The city is concerned the tension crack could lead to a landslide that would either pull the sanitary main with it or cause the manhole to tip over and separate from the main, resulting in an uncontrolled release,” Earl told reporters during the briefing.

He explained the Takhini sanitary trunk, installed in 1975, handles approximately 40 to 50 per cent of the city’s total sewage.

The city, he said, has taken steps to contain sewage in the event of an uncontrolled release, and an emergency plan is in place should a release occur.

The city and Yukon government have installed a temporary bypass pipe in the event of a failure. The bypass is scheduled to be commissioned in April.

Earl explained that replacing and relocating the trunk line to a gentler slope will require excavation along Range Road.

The design of the project includes the installation of 1.2 kilometres of a new trunk line along Range Road and down a more gentle slope, and along the west side of Mountainview Drive.

Access along Range Road will be maintained.

When the new line is tied into the underground infrastructure, however, there will be no sewer service to the areas in question for about 12 hours, Earl explained.

The city is planning to hold public engagement meetings to ensure the public is aware of the project, its impact and timing.

The public can expect a temporary road closure along Range Road near University Drive, but access to University Drive and Yukon University will be maintained from either the north or the south, he indicated.

It’s expected the permanent bypass will be commissioned this fall or early next winter.

The project is eligible for funding from the Canada Community Building Fund, and an application for the funding is being prepared.

Eshpeter said the city is also wrapping a geo-hazard study of the entire escarpment.

That work is scheduled to be complete next month, and will give the city a better understanding of the hazard along the escarpment, he said.