Spout Run Deep Sanitary Sewer Relining
StatusIn Design
Location
The project limits are: Spout Run Pwky (North of N Courthouse Rd cul-de-sac) to N Nash St, Arlington, VA 22209 View Map
Note that the project begins within Spout Run (right).
Timeline
Expected project timeline: Fall 2023 to Spring 2024
The project will have three phases:
- Phase 1 – Bypass Setup (starting at N Nash St. to Spout Run Pkwy): September-December
- Phase 2 – CIPP Lining: December-January
- Phase 3 – Bypass Teardown (starting at Spout Run Pkwy to N Nash St.): January-March
Because the project involves roads that are managed by Arlington County, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the National Parks Service (NPS), work schedules will differ. Most of the work will take place during normal construction hours Monday-Friday; however, there will be some weekend and overnight work
Daytime |
Overnight |
County Roads: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
|
County roads: 9 p.m.-7 a.m., Mon.-Fri.; 9 p.m.-10 a.m., Sat.-Sun. |
VDOT and NPS roads: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.; 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Fridays
|
VDOT and NPS roads: 10 p.m.-5 a.m., Fri.-Sun. |
About the Project
Sanitary Sewer
The sanitary sewer system is a key piece of infrastructure consisting of approximately 465 miles of sewer pipes and 13 lift stations. This intricate network exists to make sure that the wastewater that gets flushed every day from homes and businesses makes its way to the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) where it’s properly cleaned and treated before being recycled back into the environment. Learn more about our sanitary sewer system.
The Spout Run Deep Sewer Line(PDF, 713KB) is an essential part of the sanitary sewer system, as the “trunk line,” or large diameter sewer, carries a significant amount of flow under Langston Boulevard and I-66, and the pipe reaches depths up to approximately 115-feet below ground.

Inspection
- Corrosion of concrete pipe
- Exposed aggregate
- Reinforcing steel exposed
- Infiltration at the joints
- Small cracks

CCTV shows severely exposed aggregate and infiltration at pipe joint

CCTV shows cracks in pipe
Project Process
Temporary Bypass
A temporary bypass will be installed in order to allow the pipe liner to push through the existing pipe without disruption from existing flow, and in order to allow the pipe liner to correctly adhere to the existing pipe walls and cure (harden) properly.
Due to the length of the project (3,400 linear feet), there will be some sections where the bypass is above ground (through residential grass area, along N Uhle St, along the side of Custis Trail and along the median of Langston Blvd) and some sections where bypass will run underground (buried under street crossings – such as at N Scott St, N Quinn St and N Nash St). See the full bypass plans(PDF, 6MB) for more information.
Temporary lane closures will be implemented to install the bypass piping; at least one lane will remain open to traffic at all times. Custis Trail will remain open through the duration of the project, with diversions and a temporary access path provided to allow cyclists to bypass around the one-day excavations. The bypass piping will stay in place until the relining work is completed. View the map of the Custis Trail diversion(PDF, 6MB).
Cured-In-Place Pipe Process
Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) is a trenchless rehabilitation process used to repair existing pipelines using a resin (styrene) saturated felt tube.

Crews place a flexible liner into the existing sewer. Heated water is forced into the liner, pushing the liner tightly against the existing sewer walls. The heat causes the liner material to “cure” (harden), creating a new pipe within the existing sewer that is free of cracks and holes. The renewed pipe longevity is projected to last 50-70 years.

Example of CIPP using hot water. A boiler truck uses water to cure the liner with a circulation pump.
Public Process
December 2022: The project team hosted an Open House for residents of the North Highlands and North Rosslyn neighborhoods to learn about the upcoming Spout Run Deep Sanitary Sewer Relining project. View the bypass plans(PDF, 4MB) presented at the Open House.
Photo Gallery