Sewer dig causes worry

A major sewer renovation is becoming a headache for drivers and an even bigger worry for businesses along South Coast Highway near Nyes Place.

Repairs to Laguna Beach’s main sewer line started Friday and while city officials say the project is essential, area shop owners fear the effects the project will have on business during the holidays.

The project won’t end until February. David Shissler, the city’s director of water quality, said the project will repair an area of a sewer line that carries two million gallons of raw sewage daily. The pipe runs below South Coast Highway and a dip in the road near Nyes Place creates a point in the pipeline where sewage can pool and deteriorate the pipe.

“The importance of this project can’t be understated,” Shissler said.

To repair the pipeline, called the North Coast Interceptor, the city has installed a bypass line that will run down the middle of the highway. The pipe is protected by concrete K-rails that block off the two middle lanes of traffic. The construction runs from McAulay Place to Cardinal Way.

To minimize traffic disruptions, the area along the highway that would serve as parking will instead take the place of the lanes blocked by the temporary sewer line.

While this will keep commuters happy and traffic flowing, the loss of store front parking has some business owners worried. Staff from the Black Iris florist shop even considered picketing.

“If there was no parking, I would have no need for my employees — we’d be over,” said Black Iris owner Bill Merrill.

The city responded to Merrill’s and other business owner concerns by making a deal with St. Catherine’s School. The city acted quickly to install loading zones and five public parking spaces on Cardinal Way, which the school privately owns. The city will also have signs made to inform the public that businesses will remain open through construction.

The public parking stalls have a limit of one hour, so employees who have to park for long periods will have to find spaces in the neighborhoods around Nyes Place.

“It’s not going to be as good, but hopefully it will serve their needs,” City Manager Ken Frank said.

This eased some of Merrill’s apprehensions, but he said there’s still cause for alarm. He said he wasn’t properly informed of the project.

The city sent out mailers to all businesses and residences within 1,000 feet of the construction, more than 700 people in all, officials said. They also distributed fliers in anticipation of the project.

More of an immediate challenge for Merrill is the holiday shopping season. The three-month project is slated to be finished Feb. 25. That spans three of the florist’s busiest holidays — Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine’s day.

Now in its 25th year, the Black Iris has been installing its impressive Christmas display since June. Merrill said 80% of his business is phone business and the only time walk-ins pick up is during the holiday season. He’s worried that with construction, people will think the shop is closed.

Other business owners voiced similar trepidation.

“I don’t know if it’s that urgent that they have to tear up the street during Christmas,” said Sandy Searle, the owner of Heirlooms.

Shissler said the project is indeed that urgent. The line was installed in 1982 and is nearing the end of its natural life as it is.

“We’d run the risk of the pipe, which we know is not in good condition, failing,” Shissler said.

Parking information maps can be viewed on the city’s Water Quality Department website at www.clbwq.net by clicking on “NCI Traffic and Project Information.”