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New Port Richey Drainage Project Steps Up Progress

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By JESSICA BAIR, The Suncoast News

Published: November 12, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - The city drainage project that has frustrated downtown business owners and inconvenienced their patrons is now making slow but steady progress.

Because of unforeseen delays related to old utility lines, high groundwater levels and problems with the design and installation of a stormwater filtration device at Florida and Adams streets, the construction is at six months and counting.

City officials expected completion this past month. Now, the timeline stretches into next year.

The $2 million project is intended to relieve stormwater flooding problems on Missouri and Nebraska avenues in and around downtown.

Responding to complaints about the negative effects on downtown commerce, Public Works Director Tom O'Neill in October called for a quicker pace of construction. He asked the contractor, Clearwater-based Steve's Excavating and Paving, to have its crew work longer hours.

Since then, there has been visible progress.

For example, the contractor has finished installing the troublesome filtration unit at Florida and Adams. The filter is supposed to keep oil, other contaminants and debris in stormwater runoff out of nearby Orange Lake.

The contractor is close to installing pipes from the filter to the Main Street area and has agreed to lay a temporary asphalt surface on Adams Street.

"They have reconstructed all the stormwater inlets along the street, so we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel," O'Neill told the city council this past week.

Crews worked Wednesday on a "conflict box" under Adams near Main. The box is supposed to keep the new drainage lines separate from existing city utility lines.

"We expect the remainder of the project to go very quickly and smoothly," O'Neill said.

He said city employees are monitoring the project daily and that he's "all over it" as well.

The next leg of construction will cross over Main Street, which will necessitate what O'Neill hopes will be only short-term detours.

"It is very important to the city and adjacent businesses to complete this as quickly as possible," he said.

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