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Turnpike water erosion problems
CANFIELD
Township trustees will begin two water projects delayed from 2015 due to issues with details on drawings.
The first project, the Pebble Beach Drive Project, is addressing sediment packed into storm sewers that are three-quarters sealed shut, causing excess water runoff from the Ohio Turnpike around homes on Pebble Beach Drive.
Township Administrator Keith Rogers said the runoff is causing erosion in the developments.
The Ohio Turnpike Commission awarded the township $170,000 of the $200,000 project cost. The commission is providing the entire cost of construction minus engineering and inspection. The township must provide the engineering and inspection costs from its local share.
The second project, the Mercedes Place Project, costing $171,859, was awarded $144,359 from the commission to help address the current water erosion on Mercedes Place. The runoff is coming in at a 90-degree angle, as close as 4 feet to home-owners’ patios.
“It’s about safety,” Rogers said.
The program, Rogers said, is part of a water mitigation program for the communities directly impacted by sound or stormwater caused by the turnpike.
“This is new to the township. We’ve never worked with the turnpike before,” said Brian Governor, township trustee chairman.
The delay in starting this township project last year was caused by conflicting standards in documentation and the drawings, Rogers said.
Now, he said he has finalized the documents – conforming to turnpike commission standards – and hopes to go out for bid after Tuesday’s 7:30 p.m. meeting at Canfield Township Hall, 21 S. Broad St.
“We just want to get them done this year,” Governor said.
Rogers said the township accounted for the engineering costs when finalizing its 2016 budget so this cost would not affect the road department’s fund.
“It’s all about taking care of residents,” Rogers said.