RICHMOND — As early as Monday, contractors will be shutting down Tates Creek Road one lane at a time to extend a storm culvert under it as part of the Sunset Avenue Storm-water Improvement Project.
The new drainage system will fork to Main Street via Sunset Avenue and Mildred Court, said Jason Hart, the city’s planning director. Watershed from those streets will be directed through 30-inch polythene pipes that are being laid parallel to an existing line. Connected to the pipes are grate-covered drainage risers, which catch excess storm-water.
The current system runs through a resident’s backyard on Tates Creek Road and flows into a tributary at E.C. Million Park. The existing drain line dips in the middle of the yard, causing the water to build up until it flows out the other end. As they proceed with improvements, the new pipes will be elevated so water will flow down hill, Hart said.
Hart estimated that the original drain line was constructed in the late 1800s to early 1900s because it runs underneath a house on Sunset Avenue that was built in 1917.
That drain is made out of creek-bed rocks that had been stacked to make two sides, then a larger rock was placed on top of the stacks to create the channel.
Although the existing line still functions, it is insufficient to carry away storm water, and there are places where it has caved in, Hart said.
Kevin Causey, a city planning inspector, has been using a GPS tracking system to log the exact coordinates of the new pipe, which will aid the city in maintenance and troubleshooting, he said.
Another problem with the existing drainage system is the condition of Sunset Avenue. Over the years, newer pavement was laid over existing pavement, causing a 2-foot buildup that left the street without curbs, making drainage difficult, Hart said.
The city has plans to lower the street and build a gutter line and a curb with a 6-inch lip to direct water into catch basins, Hart said.
The new curbs, gutters and sidewalks also will be constructed with pervious concrete, a material that can be penetrated by water.
Litter and contaminates are filtered out of the water as it soaks into the concrete, Hart said, which makes the water cleaner before it goes back into stream and groundwater systems.
“It’s like a concrete sponge, creating storm water quantity and quality,” he said.
Some residents on Sunset Avenue also will get “rain gardens” built in front of their homes, which are decorative and functional depressions that trap excess rainwater so it can be absorbed into the ground.
Rain gardens contain native plants that encourage infiltration and ultimately improve water quality in nearby bodies of water, Hart said.
Residents were able to choose from a selection of grasses and perennials for the gardens.
Each garden will have a stand pipe connected to the drainage system for any overflow that cannot be absorbed.
The absorption also recharges ground water, Hart said, which keeps the roads moist, preventing the pavement from drying and cracking.
“This isn’t your traditional storm drain system,” he said.
As an MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) community, the new system will meeting EPA Clean Water Act standards, Hart said.
Crystal Wylie can be reached at cwylie@ richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 6696.
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