Wenatchee will solve rainwater disruptions that cause a dip in the bike path

An emergency project is underway to fix a stormwater main outage in Wenatchee.

The failure led to the recent formation of a sinkhole in the westbound Fifth Street bike lane between Chelan Avenue and North Emerson Avenue.

There is a 2 foot hole in the rainwater pipe and another area where the bottom of the pipe is missing by about 30 feet.

The director and mayor of Wenatchee Public Works were notified of the failure on April 25.

The Public Services Commission was informed of the situation the same day and an application for emergency funding from the Board of Public Works was submitted on April 26.

The City Council approved the project during its meetings Thursday evening.

The stormwater main repair project will cost approximately $500,000. The municipality is currently negotiating the price with a contractor.

The financing comes from the Board of Public Works with a 15% grant and a low interest loan (1.37% interest for up to 20 years)

A city employee told the council the project would start next week.

A photo presentation in the Council package, which city council members can view, illustrates major failures and holes in the stormwater pipe under 5.^e Street near the intersection with Emerson Avenue.