Nov. 25, 2020
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please see the two attachments that detail work in the following two weeks in Basin 1 (vicinity of the Duck Pond) and Basin 2 (vicinity of Southside Park).
Basin 1 (vicinity of Duck Pond)
The past week has been exceptionally productive. Two massive drainpipes were installed crossing First Boulevard in the vicinity of Jane Way. During that installation, we discovered a sewer line that needed immediate replacement, which happened in about 5 hours. The road received an initial paving. While finishing asphalt work will be required, First Boulevard is expected to be open for through traffic over Thanksgiving.
Work on the Spanish Moss Trail continues at a good pace as massive drain lines and tidal flap gates are installed. This past week, both BJWSA and Dominion Energy relocated additional service lines in and around the ditch system that runs from North Royal Oaks to West Royal Oaks. While there remain a couple of more conflicts, BJWSA and Dominion have been responsive and excellent project partners.
Next week, work will continue in the Jane Way area to dress up the ditches, restore grass and hopefully relocate the last of the gas lines that are in conflict with the drainage system. Once this work is completed, crews will begin work on the last major storm drain crossing at Battery Creek. This will necessitate closing Battery Creek Road for approximately three weeks as a major water service relocation and improved drainage pipes are installed.
Next week about 1,000 feet of an old sewage line will be replaced along the Spanish Moss Trail. Once the sewage line is replaced, the final drainpipes connecting Battery Creek to the marsh will be installed and the Spanish Moss Trail will be repaved and dressed up.
While it may not appear so, we’re making great progress and the end is in definitely in sight. As always, we’re grateful to the residents who’ve endured a significant amount of interruption as a result of the improvements. We remain on track for an on-time, on-budget delivery of this project.
Basin 2 (vicinity of Southside Park)
We are currently better than 95% completed with this aspect of the project. The improvements along Battery Creek Road have been completed and all the drainpipes on Lawton Farms Road have been installed. The drainage system is functional, and the contractor is working on punch-list items.
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 600 feet of steel wall has been installed with another 800 feet to go. Once the steel sheet wall is installed, the tidal flap gates and drainpipes will be installed. We remain on schedule and on budget.
Safety!
There will still be quite a bit of heavy machinery navigating the entire area so please exercise extreme caution when transiting the area. The project has opened up First Boulevard for through traffic over Thanksgiving for the benefit of the residents, but if you can avoid the area, please do. We continue to report a perfect safety record and we are all grateful for our law enforcement partners at the Beaufort Police Department and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office for providing patrols to the area. If you happen to see one of our law enforcement partners, please 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.
Work resumes on Monday, Nov. 30. I’ll see you around the neighborhood. Have a terrific Thanksgiving!
Neal Pugliese, Col USMC (Ret)
Chairman
Mossy Oaks Multijurisdictional Drainage Task Force
npugliese@cityofbeaufort.org