Travelers on Interstate 81 will now be greeted with an elevated water tank in Staunton featuring the Blue Ridge Mountains and elements of the city’s skyline.
The one-million-gallon water storage tank was recently hoisted up using a system of jacks and cables and now rests approximately 240 feet above the ground.
Crews are working now to remove crane equipment and complete final welds. The new water main feeding the tower is finished. The project should be completed by next summer.
The tower will improve water capacity in the city with a gravity-fed design. The overflow level matches the same elevation as the clearwell at the city’s water treatment plant on the opposite side of the city. This allows the tank to be filled without the use of pumps.
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“The engineering that goes into a structure like this is remarkable,” said Lyle Hartt, city engineer. “Because the tower sits level with our clearwell, gravity does the work and an additional pressure zone in the city’s water distribution system is not needed. It’s efficient and helps ensure consistent service for decades.”
Staunton Crossing
The landmark is at the entrance to Staunton Crossing, a 300-acre business park in the city on the north side of Richmond Avenue, where Western State Hospital was formerly located. The site is bordered by I-81, and near the connection to Interstate 64.
The tower is funded through a $9 million Virginia Business Ready Sites Program grant from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership that helps localities prepare project-ready sites.
With the Crossing Way road extension complete and utility work underway, an additional 275 acres should be opened up soon for offices, medical facilities, manufacturing and retail.
Hotels, restaurants, and retail have already been developed on roughly 25 acres within the Staunton Crossing development along Richmond Avenue. According to figures from the city, this small section brings in more than $1 million annually in tax revenue.
“This tower is more than a piece of infrastructure,” said Staunton Mayor Michele Edwards. “It reflects the smart, steady growth we’re building for our community.”
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Crystal Graham
