Community Corner

Plan Recommended for Athens Alley Flooding Problem

Funding for the $500,000 plan is yet to be determined, but officials and residents feel it is the best option to resolve flooding issues in the area.

Seven years after moving into her Kelton Avenue home, Lauren Shuty is no longer surprised when her yard floods during rainstorms, but the lack of surprise doesn’t make the situation less devastating.

“My retaining wall and fence completely washed away last summer,” Shuty said at a Dormont Council meeting Monday night. “We’re just appreciate that this being looked at.”

Fortunately for Shuty, and for neighbors who also attended the meeting because they are dealing with the same issue, a plan recommended to Dormont Council on Monday could bring relief to storm water issues that have plagued the area.

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Environmental engineering firm Hazen and Sawyer has been examining the flooding problem for several months, and on Monday presented council with the best option for dealing with the water problem, based on the firm’s studies and feedback from residents in the area.

The plan calls for an additional storm water pipe to be installed, which would connect to the existing manhole in Athens Alley, run down Athens Alley up to Annex Avenue, turn right on Annex and connect to the existing line on Kelton Avenue.

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A representative from the firm said this option is most cost effective, and would be least likely to disrupt traffic and parking in the area, although there could be some inconvenience for the people living on those streets.

The firm determined earlier this year that there is indeed a problem in the area—the storm water system is undersized for the amount of rain water that flows into it. 

There are too few catch basins, and those that exist are poorly located. In addition, one basin in Athens Allety takes in water at a 90-degree angle, then is designed to force water uphill, complicating drainage.

Council president Bill McCartney said council’s next step is to look at funding sources for the project. It’s obvious the work needs to be done, he said, but paying for it could be a challenge.

“This water issue is totally separate from the sanitary sewers. [The sanitary sewers are] a whole different budget, and that money can’t be used for this,” he said.

Now that council has a project plan, he said, he doesn’t want to just let the project sit unfinished.

“We’re not going to kick this down the road,” McCartney said. “This is on our agenda.”


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