Problems continue with Stone Avenue drainage

PORTAGE | Problems are continuing with a main pipe along the Stone Avenue drainage project.

Portage Public Works Director A.J. Monroe told the Utility Services Board on Wednesday that the 66-inch concrete outfall pipe that runs east from Willowdale Road to Willow Creek is failing in areas.

It is not a new problem, but one that is growing. Monroe said when the pipe was being installed, workers found that soils were bad. The city approved an additional $35,000 expenditure to remove bad soils from the area.

About a year ago, there was evidence the pipe was failing at the joints and causing large sinkholes. The city began to consider spending an additional $476,000 to shore up the pipe from beneath with a cradling system. However, the pipe has failed in two more areas and is causing additional sinkholes, he said.

"We could be chasing something really bad here," Monroe said. "We need to find a solution."

The pipe is between 800 and 1,000 feet long with joints about every 12 feet, he said.

"I don't know if it is the best solution to chase this in this manner," he said, referring to the proposed cradling system.

The city has not proceeded with the $476,000 project, Monroe said.

Mayor James Snyder, who chairs the board, said he wants to know all of the options.

"We want it done efficiently and effectively at a lower cost," Snyder said.

Monroe was given approval to solicit requests for proposals from engineering firms to come up with a solution to the problem.

Monroe said staff also has established an emergency plan to avoid flooding if the system were to catastrophically fail.