The City of Rome Water and Sewer Division is working with the Georgia Department of Transportation to resolve a utility issue connected to the Second Avenue widening project.
An 18-inch pressurized sewer line was found to be too close to the surface and must be lowered beneath new sheet pilings being installed along the levee.
The line carries wastewater from the River District and Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center. While it is buried at an acceptable depth where it crosses Second Avenue, it rises several feet as it passes under the levee, a condition not shown in original plans.GDOT identified the issue during construction and requested a solution from the city.
The sewer line follows the path of a former levee access point, which contributed to its shallow placement.The project is expected to take four to six weeks, with GDOT covering the cost.
The work will not affect the levee’s structural integrity but required approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Because the line operates under pressure, a temporary bypass must be constructed to maintain sewer service while the pipe is lowered and reconnected.
Second Avenue has been under construction since summer 2024 as part of the GDOT widening project. Lane reductions remain in place as crews continue installing sheet pilings and begin work on stormwater catch basins along the levee.
