Coast Range Tunnel Shutdown Begins

The SFPUC has begun the long-planned temorary closure of the Coast Range Tunnel to perform maintenance and inspections on the tunnel and construct crucial pipeline connections to the tunnel in the Sunol Valley while it has been drained of water.

SFPUC customers will begin receiving water from reservoirs in the Bay Area exclusively until mid to late February.

Here is a view of the ventilation system constructed for this shutdown to keep air flowing through the tunnel.

Not Slowing Down for the Holidays

Work in the Sunol Valley is moving full steam ahead.


The Alameda Siphon #4 Project Team is ramping up for the January shutdown of the Coast Range Tunnel. Here the contractor is unloading a huge, specially-designed fan for use during the shutdown.

Also, the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant Project was certified and approved for construction. The project will go to bid on December 18, 2009. Learn more about prequalifying for this project at sfwater.org/prequalify.

New Irvington Tunnel Project Approved

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission approved the construction of the New Irvington Tunnel Project this week. The project EIR was certified on November 5th.

The project will now go to bid on December 15, 2009. The bids will be opened on February 25, 2009. Construction is expected to start in spring 2010.

Comment Period Extended for Calaveras Draft EIR

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has requested, and received, an extension of 28 days to the public comment period for the Draft EIR for the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project from the San Francisco Planning Department. This is in response to requests received from other public agencies and the general public and the need to accommodate an additional public hearing for the project.

Comments are now due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009.

For more information about how to provide comment in writing, please visit the Calaveras Project Page.

There will also be an additional public hearing in Sunol where members of the public can give comment on the Draft EIR.

Monday, December 14, 2009
6:30 p.m.

Sunol Glen Elementary School
Auditorium
11601 Main Street
Sunol, CA 94586

The Three R's at Sunol Glen School

The Sunol 4H Club in partnership with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) will install a series of re-purposed food barrels to capture rain water for the school organic garden at Sunol Glen School tomorrow.

This coincides with the start of the rainy season as well as the kick-off of major projects in the Sunol Valley WSIP Program.

Those who want to lend a hand or learn more about this literal application of the three r’s – reduce, reuse, and recycle - the event starts at 10:00 a.m. at Sunol Glen School, 11601 Main Street,Sunol, Saturday October 24th.

Hope to see you there!

Drenched, but busy

Despite recent rains, the contractor continues preparations for the winter shutdown of the Coast Range Tunnel, which is needed to make crucial pipeline connections to the existing system. The upcoming shutdown will be the contractor’s primary focus until the shutdown’s completion in February 2010.

Pipe for the project is on order, however. Major activities on the west side of the road, including laying and trenching the pipeline by the contractor, and micro-tunneling under Alameda Creek, will likely begin in spring of 2010.

Calaveras Dam Replacement Project Releases Draft EIR Today

The Calaveras Dam Replacement Project recently made the headlines in the San Jose Mercury News. Click here to read the article.

Not only is the project making headlines, the SFPUC today reached a major milestone with the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). To view or download copies of the Calaveras Dam Preplacement Project Draft EIR, click the following links.

Calaveras Dam Replacement Project DEIR Volume 1 of 3

Calaveras Dam Replacement Project DEIR Volume 2 of 3

Calaveras Dam Replacement Project DEIR Volume 3 of 3, appendices