Project Alert
Project Update - September 29, 2025: Schedule updated. See previous Project Updates below.
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Project Description
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (ES), operator of the metro area wastewater collection and treatment system, is planning to rehabilitate the aging and deteriorating sanitary sewer interceptor located between Fenway Avenue and Highway 61 from Headwaters Parkway to 180th Street North.
This infrastructure is a critical component of sanitary sewer service in Forest Lake, taking wastewater from local residents and businesses and sending it to the regional sewer that delivers it to the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant in Saint Paul. The improvements will repair or replace the aging infrastructure and enhance the system’s efficiency, reliability, and capacity
Project Map
Project Schedule
Design: 2023 through 2025
Construction: Summer 2026
Final Restoration: Spring 2027
Public Hearing
The Met Council hosted a public hearing on November 18, 2024 to share the draft facility plan for the project and collect comments for the public record. Comments were collected through December 2, 2024.
The public hearing presentation was recorded and can be reviewed below.
Informational Video
This video provides more detailed information on the project purpose and benefits, proposed improvements, construction process, and anticipated timeline through construction.
Learn More
ES has developed several short videos to help explain why projects like this are necessary and what you may experience during the construction of the project.
The sewer pipes right under our feet are an important part of our wastewater infrastructure, but they are getting old and need repair. MCES has a strategic plan to fix aging sewer pipes to keep the region’s wastewater flowing and neighborhoods safe.
"What's that Smell?"
As wastewater crews fix our pipes from the inside, you might smell - well, poop. Another smell you might notice is a little bit like glue. These smells are normal, and they can escape during repair. Our crews will monitor odors to meet air quality standards and we’ll do our best to reduce them during construction.
"Operation: Restoration"
MCES is committed to being a good neighbor and restoring our sewer construction sites back to how they were before, or better. We may need to remove or relocate trees and shrubs or wait for the right season to complete work like planting grass, but our on-site staff will be there to help!