The Columbia Utilities Department and Department of Public Works are co-developing improvement projects for Garth Avenue and Sexton Road.
The project is in its developmental stages. The main focus of the plan is to replace failing sanitary and storm water utility pipes. The Public Works department will be filling in sidewalk gaps. The systems have been causing problems to residents in the area. Problems range from sewer and water backups in peoples basements and road flooding during heavy rains.
Tom Wellman, the engineer specialist for the Columbia Utilities Department, said the pipes have to be replaced instead of fixed because they are over 80 years old, and they can cause infrastructure problems is not addressed.
“So if it failed for instance, if a truck was driving over it, and the top of it broke, than that could be really bad. It would disrupt the traffic in that street for a long time and it would be difficult to fix, and it would be bad for who ever is driving the truck and fell through the top,” said Wellman.
The flooding in the intersection of Garth Avenue and Sexton Road is caused by a bad hydraulics system and the intersections placement. The intersection is the lowest part of the convergence of two slopes. When it rains, the water accumulates in that area, and water does not properly drain.
The Public Works department plan is to fill in sidewalk gaps in those streets after the pipe replacements are done.
Maya Glasgow and her family moved into their new house this past July. She has been facing issues walking on those streets.
“There is just not enough sidewalks to walk with my son,” said Glasgow.
The pipe replacements would close about 600ft of Garth Avenue for at least two months. The project would be paid with proceeds from water and sewer utility fees.
Wellman expects to take the project to the city council by March of 2017, and potentially start construction in early 2018. The department is open to hear any concerns or suggestions from residents.