HENRICO COUNTY, Va. – Some residents of a Lakeside neighborhood are frustrated by the ongoing construction of a middle of a multi-million dollar sewer replacement project.
County leaders said the project is designed to improve utility services for its customers.
Sheila Taylor lives off Hermitage road in the Lakeside community, said that regardless of the intent, it's been a huge inconvenience for her.
"It's like I've got to work my schedule around them,” she said of the construction. "I had to go to the dentist and they were parked right in front of my driveway. And the trucks were parked right here. And I couldn't even go through here to go through the street to get out."
Then she said that getting to her home turned into a maze.
"Yes, they have detour signs up,” Taylor said. “But I think they need to be planned better."
"I had to go around the truck in someone's yard to go to the store,” she added. “When I got back, I couldn't even go to the alley to get home."
Taylor is not alone.
Robin Ivey is a waitress at the nearby Hermitage Grill.
She said the construction zone has definitely impacted the restaurant's bottom line.
"I would have people come in and they were like we tried to come here last week,” she said. “But we couldn't get through the detours. We got lost and everything was blocked off."
CBS 6 reached out to Henrico's Department of Public Utilities about the public's concerns.
Assistant Director Bentley Chan said they will move some trucks around to accommodate residents when needed.
"We always do our best to accommodate residents in and traffic through the area, and have sent out informational letters, had community meetings, and have staff on-site to address concerns," Chan said. "We also restore areas following construction activities."
He said they want the project to go smoothly and provide the best water and sewer service to its customers.
"That's good,” Taylor said. “They need too. It makes me happy that they're concerned.”
Henrico County officials said residents will have to deal with this construction project for a few more months. Although they promised that staff would be available to address any concerns and that residents can call the county at 804-501-4274.
More about the rehab projects:
Hermitage Park & Park View Area Phase 2 Sewer Rehabilitation (Hermitage Road and Kenwood Road is included in this project): Project includes rehabilitating or replacing approximately four miles of 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch, and 15-inch diameter sewer pipe, and replacing approximately 456 sewer service pipes. Project completion: July 2017
Pinehurst Gardens Area Sewer Rehabilitation: The project includes rehabilitating or replacement approximately 2.25 miles of sewer main piping and 300 sewer service pipes bounded by Overton Road, Cedar Croft Street, Irisdale Avenue, and Impala Drive. Project completion: April 2018
Bryan Parkway Area Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation: The project includes rehabilitating or replacing approximately 3.2 miles of sewer piping in the Greenway Avenue, Bryan Park Avenue, Greendale Road, and Lakeside Avenue area. Project completion: June 2018.
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