Relief coming to popular Beaufort residential area that repeatedly floods. What to know
Major work aimed at relieving repeated flooding in one Beaufort community is expected to begin next week.
Contractors will begin a project to install and realign drainage pipes throughout an area of the Mossy Oaks neighborhood where homes flooded during major storms in recent years but are also threatened by pop-up thunderstorms.
Calling the work necessary but disruptive because of expected detours, project managers say the construction in the area of Battery Creek Road, Broad Street, West Royal Oaks Drive and First Boulevard should take about six months.
“I’m happy and I’m hopeful,” said Neal Pugliese, who is overseeing the work. “It’s been quite the journey.”
Officials say the improvements should offer relief during storms and heavy rain but acknowledged that flooding will still occur during the strongest events such as hurricanes at high tide.
The work is part of more than $15 million in drainage improvements engineers identified throughout the city.
Truluck Construction Inc. was awarded a $4.6-million contract for the initial phase in a 550-acre area in Mossy Oaks. The work is being paid for by proceeds from general obligation bonds, grant money and a contribution from Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority.
The project has been years in the making after a task force was formed in 2017, spurred by residents frustrated by homes flooded in consecutive years by rain and storm surges from Hurricane Matthew and Tropical Storm Irma.
An engineering study identified a need for larger drain pipes and a change in elevation of some pipes.
Plans also include flap gates on pipes along the Spanish Moss Trail to control the flow of water in and out of Battery Creek during a high tide during major storms. Gates will go on the trail in the area near where Southside Boulevard intersects Battery Creek Road and between Broome Lane and on the trail where water enters and drains Battery Creek from a pond off First Boulevard.
Crews will begin by replacing old pipe on West Royal Oaks, Pugliese said. From there, new pipes will go under the road at First Boulevard, Jane Way and Battery Creek Road in that order.
City contractors cleared a drainage canal on Jane Way near Beaufort Middle School of vegetation and other debris. Public works staff has since manually pumped water from the canal to nearby ditches ahead of anticipated rain.
Work planned to better drain the area of Broad Street and Southside Park is awaiting approval by the state Department of Commerce.
