The city is replacing the aging, 1-million-gallon, steel Pikes Peak reservoir with a 1.25-million-gallon, concrete one at Bridle Trails State Park. The new reservoir will address seismic and storage deficiencies.
Construction began in June 2021. The project was delayed due to the concrete truck driver strike, and is now expected to be completed in late 2022 or early 2023. Heavy construction involving concrete trucks and large equipment is planned to be done by late summer/early fall 2022.
Work to date
- Removal of the old reservoir and pump station
- Vault and piping work in Northeast 39th Street and to the reservoir site
- Site clearing and grading
- Completion of the reservoir concrete floor and one wall section.
What to expect during construction
- Work will be performed between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Longer weekday hours may be necessary at times - to be determined.
- Park access and trails will be maintained during construction. However, trails in the immediate vicinity of the project will be temporarily closed for the safety of park users. Notices and detour signs have been posted in the park.
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. 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 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 recently reconstructed. The new facility serves the Cherry Crest, Bridle Trails and Pikes Peak neighborhoods.
Now that the new Cherry Crest Pump Station is in operation, construction can 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 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 up to the present and will continue through the construction phase.
New reservoir design
Pictured below is a computer-generated render of the proposed Pikes Peak Reservoir, which will be constructed of concrete (the existing reservoir is steel). The proposed reservoir will be in the same footprint as the existing reservoir. The proposed concrete reservoir will also require less maintenance over the life of the facility vs. the existing steel reservoir, meaning less disturbance to the surrounding community in the long term.
This rendering highlights the appearance of the proposed reservoir. Additional landscaping, including the restoration of plants, grass and trees, is not shown.
Project documents
Current
Past
- Community Advisory Group, December 2019 Meeting Summary
- Community Advisory Group, June 2019 Meeting Summary
- Project Fact Sheet, Summer 2018
- Project Fact Sheet, Spring 2017
- FAQ, Spring 2017
- Community Advisory Group, December 2016 Meeting Summary
- Community Advisory Group, January 2017 Meeting Summary
- Community Advisory Group, March 2017 Meeting Summary
- Community Advisory Group, May 2017 Meeting Summary
- Community Advisory Group, June 2017 Meeting Summary
- Open House Materials, June 2017
- Community Advisory Group, September 2017 Meeting Summary
- Community Advisory Group, August 2018 Meeting Summary