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Board declares emergency after corroded culvert prompts Old Ridge Road repair plan
Summary
The Hobart board declared an emergency after staff found a severely corroded culvert on the 300 block of Old Ridge Road and directed staff to solicit emergency engineering and construction proposals to stabilize the site and prepare replacement options.
The Hobart City Redevelopment Authority declared an emergency for a failing culvert on the 300 block of Old Ridge Road after staff reported extensive corrosion and a sinkhole that exposed the culvert wall.
Staff described the culvert as heavily corroded corrugated metal with significant scour and a localized void that had produced a sinkhole near the sidewalk. A district field inspector said crews temporarily stabilized the hole but could not determine the full extent of damage without engineering analysis. A staff speaker urged rapid action, noting the location is heavily traveled and may require armoring or full replacement.
Consultants who inspected the site recommended an engineering evaluation to define the culvert’s capacity and the scope of repairs. The board voted unanimously to declare the situation an emergency and to solicit proposals for emergency engineering and construction services, directing staff to return recommendations as soon as feasible.
Board members said the work should proceed quickly but acknowledged potential complications, including adjacent private property and traffic impacts tied to upcoming bridge work. Staff said an engineering firm on site would develop scope and cost estimates for the board’s next review. No construction contract was awarded at the meeting; the board approved only the solicitation of emergency proposals.
What’s next: staff will solicit and return proposals for an engineering plan and recommended construction approach before the board takes any construction contract action.
