Sept. 9, 2003 -- The first project funded in part by new stormwater service charges is underway at the mouth of Jack's Creek in Washington, N.C.
Two more box-style culverts equipped with TideFlex® valves are being installed under the East Main Street crossing. Four more box-style culverts with floodgates also will be installed under Park Drive, the city of Washington reported.
The project will allow storm surge flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms to drain from the Jack's Creek basin, which drains a major part of the city, 30 minutes after the river level returns to normal, a process that has been taking up to 14 hours with use of the pumping station.
A dike under Park Drive protects the Jack's Creek basin from normal tidal flooding. However, storm surges higher than seven feet can breech the dike and flood the basin, blocking major thoroughfares and flooding neighborhoods for hours. More culverts and floodgates will increase outlets for flood water to drain.
The entire Jack's Creek basin needs an estimated $12 million in drainage improvements. At the recommendation of the Stormwater Drainage Study Committee, the city is beginning with downstream improvements not only to reduce the duration of storm surge flooding but also to prepare the mouth of the creek to handle higher volumes of water following future upstream improvements.
The Jack's Creek project is one of several new stormwater projects the city will undertake to reduce destruction from Hurricanes and other tropical storms and upgrade the drainage system to support future needs.
Trader Construction Co. is contractor for the $812,965 project. The Wooten Co. is project engineer. Expected completion date is Jan. 1, 2004.
