Oct. 9, 2020
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Please see the two attachments that detail work in the following two weeks in Basin I (vicinity of the Duck Pond) and Basin II (vicinity of Southside Park).
Basin I (vicinity of Duck Pond)
This past week drainage systems were installed on Jane Way, and the cross streets of North and South Royal Oaks. Also, the first of many storm drainage pipes crossing Battery Creek Road were installed.
BJWSA took advantage of an already scheduled road closure to replace a sewage line across Battery Creek Road. It’s this kind of cooperation and coordination that has limited disruptions to area residents while maximizing productivity. Dominion Energy also relocated a gas line, clearing the way for additional stormwater drainage to be installed.
Work on the Spanish Moss Trail experienced a delay this week when a misalignment of the wall was discovered during a routine inspection. That portion of wall is being reinstalled at present. We are grateful to the technicians, engineers, and geologists who recognized this issue before it became a much larger problem. As a reminder, these 20-30-foot steel sheets are reinforcing the trail while preventing water seepage from the creek to residential areas.
Next week will be a busy one with two more stormwater pipes being installed across Battery Creek Road and numerous driveway culvert pipes. Crews will install pipes along both sides of the ditch on Jane Way. The work on Jane Way and Battery Creek road will be especially disruptive to traffic, so please use caution given the sheer number of construction personnel and heavy equipment in the area.
Weather permitting, work on the Spanish Moss Trail will continue this weekend and next week to reinstall steel sheets and continue to finish the final 400 feet of wall. Soon, the Spanish Moss Trail will be excavated, the sewage pipe will be replaced, and the tidal flap gates will be installed. This is very difficult work that requires skill and patience.
Looking ahead about two weeks and working with our partners at SCDOT and BJWSA, we will soon install new and improved drainage from the Jane Way Canal to the Duck Pond across First Boulevard. First Boulevard will shut down for about five days while a major water and sewer line are relocated to accommodate new drainage pipes. This will improve the drainage from the Middle School to the Duck Pond.
In closing, if opportunities exist to expedite work in the project area, we will take advantage of that. Our goal is to maintain momentum and bring this project to completion on time and within budget, while achieving the desired result.
We are especially grateful to our partners at BJWSA, Dominion Energy, SCDOT, BCSO, BPD for creating the conditions that have allowed us to move with efficiency while delivering results for the area residents. We’re happy with progress thus far, and have about eight weeks of hard work ahead of us.
Basin II (vicinity of Southside Park)
In Basin II, work across Battery Creek Road is progressing nicely with fully functioning and properly elevated drainage pipes. As of today, the road will be opened over the weekend to traffic. The road will be opened without restrictions next week following the conclusion of finishing work. Work in this particular area is well ahead of schedule and we thank residents for being patient, and the engineers and contractors who worked so hard to deliver this portion of the project.
Following the completion of Battery Creek Road, the entire work crew will move to the drainage ditch on Lawton Farm Road to install 60-inch pipes. We can expect a tremendous amount of heavy machinery and workers transiting the area. We expect the work on Lawton Farm Road to last about 30 days.
Safety!
We’ve been blessed by another week of safe operations, but we must remain vigilant. Driving through a construction area requires focus, especially when using the same roads as heavy machinery, and we all need to remain aware of our surroundings in order to maintain a safe environment for residents, workers, motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. As Battery Creek Road opens up in the vicinity of Southside Park and the BJWSA pump station, there will be other closures along Battery Creek Road near the Duck Pond and Jane Way. Please allot extra time when transiting the entire area. Thanks for maintaining a safe environment.
Stay informed
Finally, 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. This is the mechanism to receive near real-time updates on the project to include urgent issues like unscheduled road closures or utility interruptions.
I’m very pleased to report that at this point, the project remains on track for an on-time and on-budget delivery in the December-January timeframe.
I respond to calls, texts, and emails 7 days a week. No issue is too large or too small. So please contact me if you want to share a comment, question or concern.
Have a fantastic weekend.
Neal Pugliese, Col USMC (Ret)
Chairman
Mossy Oaks Multijurisdictional Drainage Task Force}
npugliese@cityofbeaufort.org