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SERFM - Coopersville Force Main, Sanitary Sewer, & Emergency Storage Ponds

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Important Information

Coopersville Force Main, Sanitary Sewer, & Emergency Storage Ponds: Construct new force main and sanitary sewer piping to allow flow redirection from City of Coopersville to the West Randall Lift Station. Convert City of Coopersville Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) lagoons to emergency storage ponds.

Access/Traffic: This project is not anticipated to directly impact local traffic as construction will occur within an easement north of I-96 and within the Coopersville WWTP. The Contractor will access the project from either I-96 or the Coopersville WWTP via Garfield Street.

Contact

Prein&Newhof
Dan Ridderbos, P.E.
(269) 804-3537
dridderbos@preinnewhof.com

Contractor
Milbocker & Sons
(616) 673-2195

Muskegon County
(231) 724-3440

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Legend
August 29, 2026

Work Completed:

  • Restoration north of I-96 is complete.
  • All 8-inch sanitary sewer from the WWTP to Main Lift Station is installed, and approximately half of it has been tested.
  • All structures on the WWTP site have been set.

Upcoming Work:

  • The connection to the 6″ East Gateway Lift Station force main is scheduled for Monday, August 31. This will divert all remaining Coopersville flow away from the WWTP.
  • The 16″ valves and piping from each pond to the outlet structures will be installed.
  • Ponds 1 and 2 will be regraded, and Pond 3 (the Polishing Pond) will have minor regrading done to allow vehicle traffic and clean up the side slopes.
  • Milbocker remains on track to be substantially complete on or around October 1.
August 7, 2026

Work Completed:

  • Biosolids removal is complete in all three emergency storage ponds (approximately 6 million gallons).
  • HDPE force main under and north of I-96 has been pressure tested.
  • Temporary air release valve has been installed on HDPE force main to facilitate startup.

Upcoming Work:

  • Continue installing sanitary sewer on the WWTP site.
  • Pressure test HDPE sanitary sewer under and north of I-96 next week.
  • Complete seeding, mulch blanket, and MDOT ROW fence on the north side of I-96 .
  • Following sanitary sewer testing, bypass East Gateway Lift Station while relaying existing Flood Pump force main and connecting to East Gateway Lift Station force main (exact timing is still unknown). This will divert all remaining flow away from the Coopersville WWTP.
July 27, 2026
Work Completed:
  • Force main interconnect south of I-96 is complete.
  • Deer Creek crossing has been completed and the creek restored.
  • Installation of the sanitary sewer and force main north of I-96 has been completed.
  • Biosolids removal in Pond 2 is complete, with the Polishing Pond expected to be completed today
Upcoming Work:
  • Pressure test the HDPE force main and sanitary sewer under and north of I-96.
  • Perform restoration and clean up north of I-96.
  • Continue installation of sanitary sewer along the south side of I-96.
July 10, 2026

Work Completed:

  • Sanitary sewer installation along the north side of the WWTP has started
  • The force main interconnect is mostly installed and tested, with all tie-ins to existing force mains complete
  • Biosolids removal in Pond 1 is complete, and removal in Pond 2 continues

Upcoming Work:

  • The Deer Creek crossings are scheduled for next week due to the dry weather forecast. EGLE has been notified.
  • Biosolids removal in Pond 2 is anticipated to be complete next week, and will then begin in the Polishing Pond
  • Sanitary sewer installation will continue
  • The new 20-inch force main will be tied in on either side of I-96, with the entire force main anticipated to be tested and ready for service by the end of July
June 29, 2026

Work completed:

  • Trenchless crossing of the 8″ HDPE sanitary sewer beneath I-96 completed via horizontal directional drill.
  • Force main interconnect and 8-inch PVC sanitary sewer installation started
  • Biosolids removal at the Coopersville WWTP is underway

Upcoming work:

  • Complete force main interconnect south of I-96 and pressure test
  • Complete installation of the 8-inch PVC sanitary sewer
  • Continue Biosolids removal within the Emergency Storage Ponds
  • Force main and sanitary sewer will be installed across Deer Creek north of I-96 within the next month, weather permitting
May 29, 2026
  • Coopersville continues to drain/pump out its emergency storage ponds in preparation for biosolids removal and WWTP decommissioning.
  • The trenchless crossing of the 20″ HDPE force main beneath I-96 is complete. The trenchless crossing was completed via horizontal directional drill.
  • 8″ sanitary sewer stub for the East Gateway LS has been tied into the existing flood wet well at the Main LS for future connection.
  • Next week, a smaller 8″ HDPE sanitary line will be horizontal directional drilled beneath I-96. During the directional drill, the EB and WB outside lanes on I-96 will be temporarily closed.

 

May 1, 2026
  • Coopersville continues to drain its emergency storage ponds in preparation for biosolids removal and WWTP decommissioning.
  • Tree clearing has continued, and I-96 shoulder closure preparations have begun. The Contractor is anticipated to mobilize May 11, with the fusing and HDD subcontractor arriving on site May 18.
April 29, 2026
  • Tree clearing within the project limits will begin the week of April 27.
  • The Contractor intends to mobilize mid-May.
  • Horizontal Directional Drilling of the force main and sanitary sewer under I-96 is anticipated late May.