Hobart authority declares emergency after inspection finds Old Ridge Road culvert failing

At a regularly scheduled meeting of the Hobart City Redevelopment Authority, members declared an emergency for a failing culvert in the 300 block of Old Ridge Road after field staff described severe corrosion, scour and a sinkhole risk.

Staff member (Speaker 8), who inspected the site, told the board the corrugated culvert was “rotten bad” and had produced a hole large enough to create a sinkhole adjacent to the sidewalk. He said the structure appears to include multiple offset old pipes and heavy internal corrosion that may have collapsed sections of the liner and bedding.

The board discussed public‑safety and traffic impacts and the potential need for engineering and construction work that could require lane impacts. Presenter (Speaker 3) and staff recommended obtaining engineering proposals quickly so the board could assess options and costs. The authority voted to declare an emergency and to solicit emergency proposals for engineering and construction to address the culvert failure.

Board members emphasized the need to quantify how much storm flow the pipe carries before choosing a replacement approach and asked staff to return with engineering recommendations and cost estimates as soon as practicable. Staff said Wester (engineering firm) had already been on site and would develop a scope and a price for a replacement plan.

The authority’s emergency declaration authorizes staff to seek proposals and report back for contracting or further board action. No specific construction contract was approved at the meeting; the board instructed staff to expedite engineering proposals and present recommendations at an upcoming meeting.