Beleaguered sewer project nears completion

The over-budget Lift Station 87 project has been beset by myriad financial setbacks

SARASOTA — The construction of a long-delayed, over-budget city of Sarasota sewer project is finally nearing completion.

The beleaguered Lift Station 87 project, originally budgeted at $12 million but now pushing about $52 million, is expected to handle a third of Sarasota’s wastewater flow. The new design is expected to withstand a Category 3 hurricane.

The project will replace Lift Station 7 on 935 Pomelo Avenue and finish in early 2021.

The city is still embroiled in a complicated lawsuit over the botched construction of Lift Station 87.

A jury in 2018 awarded the city nothing and ordered the municipality to pay $686,233 damages to one of the project’s original construction firms. The city did not appeal that decision.