An opportunity to rectify one of the several problems, failing underdrain pipes, caused by this year’s flood disaster is underway.
The ongoing project, which consists of replacing storm water under-drain pipes that failed on state route 814, also known as the Broadway Loop, began some weeks ago.
According to the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) District 3 Engineer, Durwood Graham, the project was let to contract Sept. 26, with the low bid going to Avis Construction Inc. in the amount of $290,376.
It is an emergency repair project, which is federally funded with oversight by The Federal Highway Administration.
The process will replace old, deteriorating concrete pipes with corrugated metal pipes.
There is no sewage involved in the project, according to Graham.
“In recent years, the high river levels have caused the jointed concrete pipe to fail due to the high water tables created on the back side of the levee,” Graham said. “The benefit of the steel pipes are to make a more rigid connection in hopes the future high water in the river will not crate the same type of failure.”
Graham said using steel pipes is also quicker than using concrete pipes and therefore, they expect to have the project completed by late fall his year with the advantage of the current low river levels.
Erik Arnold, resident engineer for the MDOT Leland Project Office, said with the pipes having collapsed, this project will provide much better drainage and makes the Broadway Loop area much safer.
In the meantime, Assistant Police Chief Michael Merchant said motorists will need to heed caution as they drive by as sections of Broadway Street will be closed off throughout the duration of the project.
If anyone is caught speeding past the construction areas, speeding fines may be doubled.
