Hoover district declares emergency to address severely corroded culvert on Old Ridge Road

The Hoover Sanitary Stormwater District declared an emergency for a failing drainage culvert on the 300 block of Old Ridge Road after staff reported severe corrosion, bank scour and a sinkhole that endangered the adjacent sidewalk and road.

Staff described the culvert as corrugated galvanized metal in poor condition, with a large void and extensive damage discovered during field checks. One staff member said the collapse had left a hole "probably over a 55‑gallon drum" in size and that the culvert may reduce from a 48‑inch to a smaller diameter along segments, complicating repair options. Staff recommended immediate steps: temporary stabilization, a rapid engineering assessment, and solicitation of emergency construction proposals.

Board members agreed public safety and traffic impacts warranted expedited action. The board passed motions to declare an emergency for the Old Ridge Road culvert and to solicit emergency engineering and construction proposals; staff was directed to obtain engineering estimates and prepare proposal packets for review before the next meeting. One board member suggested coordinating any work with planned nearby bridge work to minimize traffic impacts.

Staff noted Wester (Wessler referenced previously) had been on site and will prepare follow‑up engineering input; consultants agreed to provide a plan rapidly to inform procurement and contracting decisions. The board emphasized the need to evaluate the culvert's flow capacity and the extent of undermining before choosing a replacement method.

The board voted to solicit proposals immediately and to return with engineering recommendations and estimated costs for approval.