A new report on the city’s Floodplain Management Plan offers a look at what’s ahead for flood mitigation projects around the city.
Two items in the report highlight progress on flood mitigation along the waterfront. Two parts of the mitigation plan are re-grading sections of lower King Street and nearby streets to improve drainage and minimize flooding and the construction of an elevated walkway along the waterfront.
“The city is currently in procurement of a Progressive Design-Build contract and is scheduled to have a contract in place in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024,” the report said. “The city intends to make improvements to the waterfront area and protect to elevation 6.0’ (NAVD88) between Duke Street and Queen Street including lower King Street, Union Street and The Strand.”
The report says the 10-year budget for the project is $48.2 million, with a total of $108.6 million appropriated for the project.
For the elevated walkway, the report says the current schedule is to have a contract in place in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024.
The report also said excavation of sediment from the channel bed of Cameron Run is scheduled for Fiscal Year 2024.
The report said four additional projects are currently under contract and in the design stage:
- Mount Vernon Avenue cul de sac storm sewer improvements ($1.4 million) — flood mitigation for townhomes on Mount Vernon Avenue, including alley grading, drainage improvements and more. Construction is scheduled to start in February 2024 and be completed by November.
- Hume Avenue storm sewer bypass project ($2.5 million) — flood mitigation for homes on Hume Avenue. A storm pipe will be installed to bypass the existing storm pipe. Construction is scheduled to start in June 2024 and be completed by March 2025.
- Hooffs Run Timber Branch Bypass project ($60 million) — construction of a new storm sewer pipe system to transport stormwater from Timber Branch away from Hooff’s Run Culvert. Construction is scheduled to start in September 2026 and be completed by June 2028.
- E. Glebe, Commonwealth, Ashby storm sewer capacity project ($50 million) — a conveyance capacity, storage, and green infrastructure upgrade for the often-flooded intersection. Construction is scheduled to start in April 2026 and be completed by January 2028.