Traffic Advisory

WHO:  City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (https://twitter.com/DPUStreetNews) 
 
WHAT:  Eastbound lane and right turn lane closures
 
WHEN:  Eastbound Lane is currently closed; turn lane closures have been added

WHERE: 6800 - 6900 blocks of Forest Hill Avenue

BACKGROUND:  The eastbound outer lane of Forest Hill Avenue between Hathaway and Cherokee Roads is closed due to a collapsed sewer main. Right turn lane closures have been added, to protect the safety of the workers in the work zone.

Emergency sewer line replacement will be required and will be underway soon. Currently, bypass features are in place to ensure there is no impact to sewer services. Most sewers were installed in the early 1900’s and have deteriorated to the point that they have begun to leak, have failed (collapsed), or are at risk of failure. If not addressed, settling of road surfaces, back-ups, and other problems may occur.

City and contracted planners and engineers are developing a plan of action to immediately replace the failed pipe and assess other areas of concern. Updates are forthcoming that will include additional impacts and timeline.

Planned pipe rehabilitation will be proceeding in phases in the curb lane from the Windsorview Drive and Forest Hill Avenue intersection area to the Powhite Parkway. This rehabilitation, called cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP), will help prevent future sewer failure. More details on that process can be found here. CIPP work will be contingent on closed-circuit-television (CCTV) footage that will be obtained beginning April 9.

Motorists are reminded to pay attention to signage in the area, and to use caution while traveling through the work zone. Riders of GRTC buses are encouraged to check updated schedules (via ridegrtc.com or the GRTC mobile app) for any changes to bus stops or schedules before travel.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of the traveling public while this critical infrastructure work continues. There is no impact to the water service in the area; your water supply remains safe for drinking and recreational activities.

April 2024 Bill Inserts

CivicReady

Letter To DPU Customers - Mar. 2024

City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities urges customers to enroll into MyHQ – a new electronic billing platform.

In February 2024, the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities launched a new electronic billing platform, MyHQ. MyHQ replaces MyCheckFree, a platform that close to 13,000 of DPU’s customers are enrolled in. Fiserv, the parent company of MyCheckFree, recently announced the platform’s retirement effective March 14, 2024. The final day customers can access their account information through the MyCheckfree.com website is March 13.

Over 5,600 customers have enrolled in MyHQ to date. All utility customers are encouraged to take advantage of this free, easy and paperless electronic billing and payment option to ensure safer delivery of utility bills and timely receipt of payments.

MyHQ functions the same as MyCheckFree, and offers additional enhancements. With MyHQ, customers can:

• Make ACH payments without a fee
• Choose from multiple notification types
• Automatic or manual payments
• View bills and payment history (up to 36 months)
• Setup AutoPay
• Configure notifications
• Create an easy to use wallet

Notices to impacted customers have occurred frequently since February, including direct emails and bill messages. All customers are encouraged to take action now to ensure a seamless transition.

Customers can sign up and explore other payment options by clicking here.

Here is what happens with MyCheckFree on March 14, 2024:

MyCheckFree.com service and customer accounts will be permanently disabled. Login access to MyCheckFree will be permanently disabled.

• All electronic payments scheduled for payment AFTER Thursday, March 14, 2024, will be permanently canceled.
• Customer will be unenrolled by Fiserv for all of their eBills received at MyCheckFree.com. The bill delivery preference on file with the bill provider will be used to resume delivery of bills. This bill delivery preference may include, without limitation, delivery by the US Postal Service (USPS) to the mailing address on file with the bill provider or paperless delivery supported by the bill provider.
• Automatic bill payments (“autopay”) will be disabled at MyCheckFree.com.
• All electronic payments with a scheduled payment date after Thursday, March 14, 2024, will be permanently canceled. Payments scheduled with a payment date of March 14, 2024, and before will be processed.
• Access to eBill and payment history will no longer be available at MyCheckFree.com service and customer accounts will be permanently disabled. Login access to MyCheckFree will be permanently disabled.

Don’t Delay, Enroll Today – it’s quick, it’s easy and it’s FREE!

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is repairing the existing pipe underneath the 5000 block of Riverside Drive that is failing and has created a 8'x8'x7' deep hole at the edg