Board declares emergency for failing culvert on Old Ridge Road and solicits proposals

The Hobart City Redevelopment Authority declared an emergency after operations staff reported a severely deteriorated corrugated culvert at the 300 block of Old Ridge Road, where a sinkhole and heavy scour were discovered along a heavily travelled stretch.

Operations staff described a collapse in which the metal culvert has lost structural integrity, leaving large voids and a hole previously estimated at the size of a 55‑gallon drum. Staff said the problem affects both intake and discharge banks and that debris and soil have likely filled parts of the pipe; a nearby sidewalk had been undermined. “It’s a heavily traveled road,” operations staff warned, adding that the condition created a public‑safety risk and required prompt attention.

Board members discussed inspection options and short‑term stabilization. Staff recommended use of the district’s engineering consultant (Wessler) to produce an engineering plan. The board voted to declare an emergency for the Old Ridge Road drainage and to solicit emergency proposals for engineering and construction to address the culvert condition.

Staff said Wessler had conducted an initial site visit and would provide a costed plan quickly; the district directed staff to return proposals as soon as they were available so the board could consider contracting work before the next meeting. The board also noted that traffic management and erosion control would likely be needed during construction and that homeowner access and utility impacts should be included in proposals.

Next steps: staff will request proposals for an engineering plan and construction approach and report back to the board; no specific bid or contract was authorized at this meeting beyond the solicitation of emergency proposals.