Right now, the sewer and the stormwater flow in the same pipe.
The CSO project takes the sewer discharge out of the pipe, separating it from the stormwater from rain or melting snow.
When the project is done, the stormwater will go directly into the river.
Pipes that currently empty into the storm drain will be moved over to the sewer line.
“Going north, you can go all the way through.
We’re trying to detour the flow of traffic to reduce the traffic count so that they can get the work done.” North Avenue is also an extension of state Route 150.
For this reason, combined sewer systems are designed to overflow occasionally and discharge excess wastewater directly into the river.
In Skowhegan, work began separating stormwater from household waste with Phase 1 of the project in 2001, when voters at the March annual Town Meeting agreed to borrow $4.8 million for the project.
Almand said notices of the work on North Avenue were sent out to 86 residents along the construction route.
Almand said after this phase of the project is completed on North Avenue and a small section of Madison Avenue, the town will update the “master plan” of the project and be able to calculate the cost savings as well.