2 days ago
City approves task order for Lynn Haven stormwater project
LYNN HAVEN, Fla. (WMBB) – Lynn Haven is making progress on stormwater drainage improvements.
It's been a problem for decades, but worsened after Hurricane Michael, causing flooding even during moderate rains.
City officials signed a task order today to finish the remainder of the project.
In 2022, Lynn Haven received a $1 million legislative appropriation to address long-standing stormwater issues.
With clogged pipes and blocked outflows choked by grass and sediment, flooding has been a persistent problem in the community for decades.
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'We want to prevent any structural flooding. We want to get water from standing in roadways so emergency vehicles can pass. And of course, you know, our residents to walk down the road if needed in an emergency or be able to leave their home without flooding their cars out,' said Public Works Director Chris Lightfoot.
The city divided the project into phases, prioritizing repairs that didn't require permits from the Army Corps of Engineers or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
That allowed crews to start clearing and maintaining some systems immediately.
Some of the work has occurred along 7th Street and Kentucky Avenue, and 13th and Missouri Avenue.
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'The outfall construction that we're doing is basically excavating and armor forming the outfalls to provide a clear flow for the stormwater to get out. Currently, it's grass and sediment that builds up and constantly having to be maintained. It's difficult to maintain because they stay so wet. So we will just get these cleaned out. They will be a permanent structure, and they can flow freely,' Lightfoot added.
The city has used about $700,000 so far. The remaining $300,000 will go to trouble spots like East 2nd Street and Illinois off 10th Street.
'That it will allow storm water to recede faster and hopefully not be in our streets and roadways,' Mayor Jesse Nelson said.
The entire project is expected to take about 120 days to complete. That work will go out to bid in the near future.
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