Pennsylvania Township to Make Storm Water Improvements
Bethlehem Township will have to pay approximately $12 million to $18 million to solve its storm water drainage problems, according to the Morning Call.
The township may also need to buy flood-prone private properties.
A three-year study examined several areas of the township frequently damaged by floods in order to find ways to mitigate the problem. In 2016 in particular, more than 50 people packed the municipal building seeking help to protect their properties, reported the Morning Call.
The township contracted T&M Associates of Bethlehem as a response to this public outcry. T&M designer David Petrik recently presented the results of the study to the commissioners.
“The goal was to gather and record information about historic flooding and, in part, areas in jeopardy of flooding,” said Petrik.
The study identified the following flood problem areas, as well as potential solutions and costs:
- William Penn Highway and Ohio Street: $390,000 to $600,000 to extend a storm water main;
- Sculac Drive and Wilson Avenue: $400,000 to $500,000 to replace a culvert with an underground pipe system;
- Chetwin Terrace: $3.5 million to $4.5 million to install a drainage system and rain gardens;
- Blue Grillhouse and ABE Salvage along Easton Avenue: $450,000 to $600,000 to install a larger drain pipe and create a system of moving the water;
- Walnut and 10th streets: $1 million to install a storm water collection system of pipes and driveway culverts;
- Santee Road, Sunset Drive and Easton Avenue: $4.7 million to install large water detention basins;
- And Willow Park Road: $1.4 million to $6.3 million to remove an unused bridge, install semi-permanent and movable flood shields and create 200 feet of creek bank.