County staff say Grove stormwater and roadway upgrades stop flooding

A county staff member described a completed stormwater drainage and roadway improvement project in the Grove neighborhood, saying the work has stopped chronic flooding and erosion in the area. The presenter identified a 42-inch storm drain and a reinforced concrete box culvert among the principal elements of the job, and said the construction phase lasted 51 weeks.

"With the new storm drain systems, the water no longer backs up and floods and the erosion problem that was taking place around the edges of the roadway has been stopped," the staff member said. The presenter also noted that some roadway segments were significantly narrower than the VDOT standard of 18 feet before the project and that subsequent roadway widening was completed where possible.

The staff member described the sequence of construction: clearing trees and brush, installing the 42-inch storm drain line, regrading and stabilizing drainage ditches, replacing driveway culverts, constructing a box culvert, and then rebuilding the roadway after relocating water, gas and sanitary sewer lines. The box culvert was characterized as a reinforced concrete structure placed under the roadway to convey water.

James City Service Authority and Newport News Water Works were named as organizations that oversaw certain aspects of design development and construction oversight. The presenter said new storm drain systems were installed on Magruder Avenue and Railroad Street as part of the project.

The staff member estimated the improvements should have a service life exceeding 50 years and said the county currently has additional roadway and stormwater drainage improvement projects in the design and development stages. No formal vote or ordinance was described in the remarks.