Pikes Peak Reservoir Replacement

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Bellevue Utilities is almost finished replacing the aging, 1-million-gallon, steel Pikes Peak reservoir with a 1.25-million-gallon, concrete reservoir within Bridle Trails State Park. The new reservoir will address seismic and storage deficiencies to better serve the Bridle Trails, Pikes Peak and Cherry Crest neighborhoods.

Construction began in June 2021 and will be completed in June 2023.

Work completed

Removal of the old reservoir and pump station.
Vaults and pipes in Northeast 39th Street and to the reservoir site.
Site clearing and grading.
Construction of the new reservoir including exterior stairway, site fencing, and security features.
Landscape plantings and restoration of the park including trails around the site.
Paving within the reservoir site and on Northeast 39thStreet.

What to expect

Work will be performed between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Park access and trails will continue to be maintained during the remainder of construction.

Map showing Pikes Peak Reservoir Replacement project location within the Bridle Trails State Park

Grand Opening

The completion of the Pikes Peak Reservoir project marks a big milestone for Bellevue Utilities, and with that, Utilities is planning to have a grand opening ceremony on Wednesday, June 14. More information about this event will be posted here at the beginning of June.

Project background

Through a lease agreement with Washington State Parks, Bellevue Utilities has owned, operated and maintained the Pikes Peak Reservoir and Pump Station facilities in Bridle Trails State Park for over 50 years. Utilities has been planning to replace the reservoir and relocate the pump station. This is a high-priority project because these valuable water system assets provide water service reliability and fire protection to the residents of the Bridle Trails, Pikes Peak and Cherry Crest neighborhoods.

Utilities has evaluated the existing reservoir and pump station and determined they are not up to current seismic and operating standards and are nearing the end of their useful lives. Utilities took a collaborative approach over the initial phase of this project to evaluate alternatives and select an option to improve the reservoir and pump station.

During the preliminary design phase, it was determined that the preferred alternative was to replace the existing Pikes Peak reservoir and relocate and incorporate the Pikes Peak pump station operation to facilities in Cherry Crest. The aging Cherry Crest Pump Station facility, located next to the Cherry Crest Mini Park along 127th Avenue NE, was finished being reconstructed in 2021. The new facility serves the Cherry Crest, Bridle Trails, and Pikes Peak neighborhoods.

Once the new Cherry Crest Pump Station was put into operation, construction was able to begin on the Pikes Peak Reservoir Replacement project.

This project is part of Utilities' Rehabilitation and Replacement program, established to maintain the area’s water service infrastructure. The Pikes Peak Reservoir has been identified as one of the more seismically deficient reservoirs in the system and is a high-priority project.

Collaborative evaluation process

During the preliminary design phase, Utilities evaluated proposed improvements for the replacement of the reservoir and pump station within the existing site located in Bridle Trails State Park. To ensure the Pikes Peak Reservoir Replacement project was a collaborative effort, the project team created and gathered public input through a Community Advisory Group (CAG) made up of key stakeholders of several community groups and interested individuals who live near and/or use the park.

The CAG met seven times from December 2016 through September 2017 to discuss community priorities and project alternatives. Utilities also hosted an open house for the general public and briefed the Bridle Trails Community Club to share information about the project. From this process, a preferred alternative was mutually selected. Communication between Utilities and the CAG continued throughout the design phase and has continued through the construction phase.

New reservoir design

Pictured below is a computer-generated rendering of the new Pikes Peak Reservoir, which is constructed of concrete (the existing reservoir was steel). The new reservoir has been constructed within the same footprint as the existing reservoir. The new concrete reservoir will require less maintenance over the life of the facility vs. the existing steel reservoir (i.e. it is not painted and will never need to be re-painted periodically like a steel reservoir would need), meaning less disturbance to the surrounding community in the long term.

This rendering highlights the appearance of the reservoir. Additional landscaping (including the restoration of plants, grass, and trees) is not shown.