10/22/2025
Historic bricks to be preserved as Consent Decree project advances Downtown
Beneath Downtown Tyler’s familiar brick streets, an important transformation is taking place. Crews with Tyler Water Utilities have started work on a major sewer improvement project that will strengthen the City’s wastewater system and support the community’s growth for decades to come.
The Consent Decree Group 2 improvement project will increase the capacity of approximately 18,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer line from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Bryan Street. To facilitate construction and protect the bricks within the project area, the Tyler City Council approved a $1,473,686 contract with Crown Civil Construction on Wednesday, Oct. 22. The contract includes the removal of bricks in the construction zones and the installation of temporary asphalt pavement.
Once the wastewater line installation is complete, the cleaned bricks will be reinstalled to restore the street’s original appearance. However, bricks removed from Elm Street between Fannin Avenue and College Avenue, where the road had previously been overlaid with asphalt, will be stockpiled for future repairs on other brick streets throughout Tyler and a permanent asphalt street will be installed.
In February 2025, the Council approved a $28,191,846 contract with Belt Construction of Texas, LLC, to complete the sewer capacity improvements. Construction began in May and is expected to be completed in about two years. This project is part of the City’s ongoing Consent Decree agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade aging wastewater infrastructure and improve system reliability.
Because the project crosses several historic brick streets, including Elm Street, College Avenue and Woldert Street, City departments worked together to coordinate the timing of construction with the Downtown Improvement Project. This planning ensures that the sewer line replacement is completed before new roadways and sidewalks are installed, minimizing disruption and protecting future investments.
For more information about City projects, visit MyTylerTexas.com.
