The City has initiated the third phase of a project to improve storm water and tidal drainage across the island. This project is intended to make significant drainage improvements to the 30th, 36th and 41st Avenue outfalls which will improve conditions on the amount of standing water events experienced by residents and property owners.
The project began in 2017 when City Council tasked the Planning Commission with developing a strategy to address drainage problems. As part of the project, smaller but impactful drainage improvement projects along the basin will also be addressed. These are located at Sparrow Drive, Forest Trail, Cross Lane, 32nd Avenue and 41st Avenue.
The construction of the 30th and 36th Avenue outfalls began in early 2022 and expected completion in 2023. The construction of the drainage improvements to the 41st Avenue outfall is scheduled to begin in the fall/winter of 2023.
Updates
Road Closure and Detour Due to 30th Avenue Drainage Project
Construction has started on portions of the City's Phase 3 Drainage Project in the areas of 30th Avenue, Forest Trail and Waterway Boulevard.
The project will provide a much-needed improvement to the flow of storm water out of the area, while also slowing tidal water from entering the system.
The improvements will include new piping under the pavement at the intersection of 30th Avenue, Waterway Boulevard and through the golf course, cleaning the channel through the marsh, as well as a new backflow valve system.
There will be a certain level of inconvenience associated with the work including construction sounds, large moving equipment, the storage of materials, and ultimately the closure of Waterway Boulevard with a detour. The detour is expected to begin in mid August and last several weeks. The portion of the project around 30th Avenue should be complete in early September and the contractor will then move to the Forest Trail area.
During the temporary road closure, all traffic on Waterway Boulevard will be rerouted at 29th Avenue and 31st Avenue to Palm Boulevard.
Phase 3 Drainage Update - May 2022
30th & 36th Avenue:
- Construction started at 30th Avenue
- Golf course portion of the work completed by June
- Waterway & 30th road closure mid/late July to end of August
- Waterway & 36th road closure late September - mid October
City staff met with Dominion Energy, Thomas & Hutton and Quality Enterprises on site at 30th Avenue on May 17, 2022 to coordinate efforts to temporarily relocate the power pole located at the corner of the ditch where the new drainage infrastructure is being installed. The power pole and the guide wire need to be moved approximately 4 feet away from the ditch, but within the existing drainage easement.
Additionally, the contractor has indicated that the overhead power lines may need to be temporarily moved as well while the crane installs the box culvert to allow the proper clearance (15 feet) between the active power lines and the crane lifting the box culvert from truck and placing it on the ground. All stakeholders are coordinating efforts to evaluate alternatives to facilitate installation while minimizing disruption and avoiding delays in the schedule.
41st Avenue:
- Wetland permit (OCRM and USACE) still pending. City has conditional approval from OCRM. All other permits are contingent on the wetland permit.
- Project was put on public notice on April 14 until May 14.
- City received $1.4M grant from the SC Office of Resilience from CDBG-MIT funds for construction.
- City held kick-off meeting with Office of Resilience staff and Thomas & Hutton to determine next steps to get the project ready to go to bid once permits are in hand.
Phase 3 Drainage Update - April 2022
30th & 36th Avenue:
- Pre-construction meeting held today, 4/19 with Thomas & Hutton, Quality Enterprises & IOPWSC
- May 2 – site prep begins, and May 5 construction begins
- Golf course portion of the work completed by June
- Waterway & 30th road closure July 28 – August 8 (10 days)
- Waterway & 36th road closure October 3 – October 8 (5 days)
41st Avenue:
- Wetland permit (OCRM and USACE) still pending. City has conditional approval from OCRM. All other permits are contingent on the wetland permit.
- Project was put on public notice on April 14 until May 14.
- City received $1.4M grant from the SC Office of Resilience from CDBG-MIT funds for construction.
- City held kick-off meeting with Office of Resilience staff and Thomas & Hutton to determine next steps to get the project ready to go to bid once permits are in hand.
Phase 3 Drainage Update - March 2022
30th & 36th Avenue:
- Start date for 30th Avenue outfall construction in early April
- Golf course work completed by June
- Waterway and 30th road work July – August
- Waterway and 36th road work September – October
41st Avenue:
- Wetland permit (OCRM and USACE) still pending. City has conditional approval from OCRM. All other permits are contingent on the wetland permit.
- City received $1.4M grant from the SC Office of Resilience from CDBG-MIT funds for construction.
- Mitigation – Most cost-effective option for the City is to purchase mitigation credits. Mitigation project evaluated would be more costly: construction, monitoring and ongoing maintenance.
Phase 3 Drainage Update - February 2022
30th & 36th Avenue:
- Contract executed
- Supply lead times are causing issues that will impact original schedule.
- Steel wire mesh that goes inside the concrete pipes. Suppliers rationing steel.
- Box culvert 6 month lead time. New start date for 30 th Avenue outfall construction in early April, golf course work completed by June, road work on Waterway July August.
- Road work on the 36 th Avenue outfall between September-October
41st Avenue:
- Wetland permit (OCRM and USACE) still pending. City has conditional approval from OCRM. All other permits are contingent on the wetland permit.
- City received $1.4M grant from the SC Office of Resilience from CDBG MIT funds for construction.
- Mitigation Most cost effective option for the City is to purchase mitigation credits. Mitigation project evaluated would be more costly: construction, monitoring and ongoing maintenance.
Phase 3 Drainage Update - January 2022
30th & 36th Avenue:
- Contract with Quality Enterprise executed.
- Supply lead times are causing issues that will impact original schedule.
- Steel wire mesh that goes inside the concrete pipes. Suppliers rationing steel.
- Box culvert - 6-month lead time
- Staff is evaluating alternate schedule and materials. Meeting with Wild Dunes tomorrow to discuss alternate schedule that would minimize impact to golf course operations.
41st Avenue:
- Wetland permit (OCRM and USACE) still pending. City has conditional approval from OCRM. All other permits are contingent on the wetland permit.
- Mitigation – Most cost-effective option for the City is to purchase mitigation credits. Mitigation project evaluated would be more costly: construction, monitoring and ongoing maintenance.
November 2021
City opened bids for the construction of the outfall improvements at 30th and 36th Avenue on November 10, 2021 and received two (2) bids:
- Gulfstream Construction --$3,062,461.70
- Quality Enterprises --$2,270,822.51
Ways and Means, City Council to consider award of a contract to Quality Enterprises on Wednesday, November 17, 2021.
A Notice to Proceed and kick off meeting will be issued/scheduled after executing contract.
Internal Drainage Project at 41st Avenue and Forest Trail Complete
The contractor has completed the drainage and road paving work at 41st Avenue. The road is fully opened to traffic.
Phase 3 Drainage Internal Projects Update - October 2021
All portions of drainage projects at Sparrow Drive, Forest Trail, Cross Lane, 32nd Avenue and 2 portions of the project at 41st Avenue are completed.
41st Avenue & Forest Trail
- Gulfstream doing final pressure testing on the relocated utilities on Monday, 10/18
- New drainage pipes to be laid down week of 10/18, and paving scheduled for Friday, 10/22.
- If work proceeds as scheduled, with no additional complications, final walkthrough and project closeout on week of 10/25.
Phase 3 Drainage Outfalls Update - October 2021
- All permits on hand for the construction of the 30th and 36th Avenue outfalls.
- The City held a bid opening on Friday, October 15th. Only one bid was received, therefore, it was not opened. To solicit more bids and encourage a competitive process, the City and Thomas & Hutton discussed potential changes to the RFB language to address challenges encountered by prospective bidders.
- Provide greater flexibility to contractors to propose alternate materials (with approval from engineers) from those specified in the RFB to address the challenges w/ material shortages.
- Include Forest Trail in the scope of work, not as an alternate since City has all permits on hand.
- The plan is to issue a revised RFB this week and open bids and have a recommendation for award of a contract to Ways and Means Committee and Council at the regular meetings in November.