The portion of Citizens Energy Group’s DigIndy Tunnel System that opened in late 2017 already has prevented more than 3 billion gallons of sewage from entering Central Indiana’s waterways. Now, even more sewage will be prevented from entering our waterways with the opening of two more tunnels.
In July, Citizens announced the opening of the White River and Lower Pogues Run Tunnels, which together will prevent up to 700 million gallons of sewage from entering waterways annually. A total of four of the system’s six tunnels are now in operation (including the Deep Rock Tunnel Connector and Eagle Creek Tunnel), comprising nearly 17 of the system’s 28 miles.
The newly opened White River Tunnel is nearly 6 miles long and includes approximately 9,000 feet of consolidation sewers, which transport sewage from CSO points to the tunnel. This segment of the tunnel will prevent CSOs in neighborhoods along the White River to Downtown Indianapolis.
The Lower Pogues Run Tunnel is nearly 2 miles long and includes 1,200 feet of consolidation sewers. The tunnel, along with other improvements along the Upper and Lower Pogues Run waterways, will significantly reduce CSOs along Pogues Run from the Brookside neighborhood to Downtown.
The portion of the tunnel that opened in late 2017 is nearly eliminating sewer overflows into the White River in one of the most densely populated areas of the city stretching from Downtown Indianapolis to the county line on the south side.
In addition to restoring our waterways, DigIndy is also making a difference in our neighborhoods in the form of public art and newly planted trees.
The DigIndy Art Project was established to raise awareness of DigIndy and to enhance our community with public art. Since then, Citizens has partnered with Big Car Collaborative and local artists to create art on manhole covers around the city and on Citizens buildings in the Hawthorne community on the city’s near-westside and in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood.
The 10 Thousand Trees program, a partnership between Citizens, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Indy DPW, and Indy Parks, helps change the landscape of dozens of local neighborhoods while reducing CSOs into area waterways. The program has surpassed the halfway point, with more than 7,000 trees planted to date.
DigIndy’s remaining two tunnels, Pleasant Run and Fall Creek, are expected to open in 2025. When the entire 28-mile DigIndy Tunnel System is complete, it will nearly eliminate CSOs, creating healthier, more vibrant waterways and improving the community.
Learn more at www.DigIndyTunnel.com and check out a video about DigIndy’s past, present, and future at www.citizensenergygroup.com/DigIndyVideo.
Tagged in: Water Quality, DigIndy, White RIver
