Dec. 4, 2020
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please see the two maps that detail work in the following two weeks in Basin I (Vicinity of the Duck Pond) and Basin II (Vicinity of Southside Park).
Basin 1 (vicinity of Duck Pond)
Work in Basin 1 in the vicinity of Jane Way and First Blvd. continues at a very brisk pace. We’re cleaning and shaping ditches and will soon apply grass seed to limit erosion. While the ditch work continues, First Blvd. will remain closed to provide for the maximum amount of safety for residents and work crews.
Despite both the rain and cold weather, work along the Spanish Moss Trail continues at a very productive rate with more massive drainpipes being installed, along with preparatory work to accommodate 1,000 feet of new sewer pipe. Also, drainpipe was installed along North Royal Oaks following the relocation of utility services. As of today, there is only one more gas line and one more water service line that requires relocation throughout the entire project area. Dominion Energy and BJWSA have been superb partners as evidenced by the sheer volume of relocations made since August.
Next week, work along Jane Way and First Blvd. should conclude. All major drainpipes have been installed throughout the Jane Way and First Street constellation. These new pipes represent a huge increase in capacity to handle stormwater, meaning that homes are less prone to flooding than ever before. Some work remains at the end of Jane Way following the relocation of the final gas service line.
Once work on Jane Way concludes, crews will shift to the area where Battery Creek Road intersects with the Duck Pond. The final water service line will be relocated, massive drainpipes will be installed and Battery Creek Road will be restored to the correct elevation. We expect that Battery Creek Road will be closed in the vicinity of the Duck Pond for approximately 3-5 weeks, depending on weather. This is the last major storm drain system to be upgraded in the area.
Next week, crews will begin assembling 1,000 feet of new sewage line to be installed along the Spanish Moss Trail on or about Dec. 15. After that, the Spanish Moss Trail will be repaved and restored to its original condition.
Finally, weather and soil conditions permitting, work along the ditch system between North Royal Oaks and West Royal Oaks will continue.
We are grateful to all those who have endured a tremendous amount of disruption associated with this drainage project. That said, at the conclusion of this project, residents may rest easier knowing they have a world-class drainage system that is positioned to handle otherwise damaging storms.
Basin 2 (vicinity of Southside Park)
We’re in the final stages of completing work with the contractor, focusing on punch list items. All improvements along Battery Creek Road have been completed and all the drainpipes on Lawton Farms Road have been installed and are completely functional. Work on the Spanish Moss Trail in this basin is being done by another construction company and as in Basin 1, about 1,400 feet of steel sheet pile are being driven into the Spanish Moss Trail between Riverside and Brotherhood. To date, about 800 feet of steel wall has been installed with about another 600 feet to go.
Once the steel sheet wall is installed the tidal flap gates and drainpipes will be installed. Residents should expect another three weeks of steel sheet pile driving along the Spanish Moss Trail. We thank residents for their continued patience as we forge ahead. The project remains on schedule and on budget.
Safety!
To date, we’ve had a great safety record, but we must remain vigilant. There are still a lot of construction vehicles transiting the area. A good rule of thumb is that if you cannot see the heavy equipment operator, the operator cannot see you. Please avoid the area until the construction is completed, if possible. Thank you for your continued patience. If you happen to see one of our law enforcement partners, thank them for serving the community.
Stay informed
Please encourage all those affected or interested in the Mossy Oaks Project to register with the “Notify Me” application found on the City of Beaufort website (https://www.cityofbeaufort.org/list.aspx) and subscribe to the Mossy Oaks Stormwater Project updates. This is the mechanism to receive near real-time updates on the project to include urgent issues like unscheduled road closures or utility interruptions.
Have a fantastic week. We are making terrific progress!
Neal Pugliese, Col USMC (Ret)
Chairman
Mossy Oaks Multijurisdictional Drainage Task Force
npugliese@cityofbeaufort.org