Residents of the Travis neighborhood on Staten Island have been affected in recent years by flooding from storm surges and sewage overflows, which have been exacerbated by aging pipes and limited stormwater infrastructure. EnTech recently provided construction inspection and coordination for a $33M project to provide much-needed drainage upgrades for this primarily residential area, including new storm sewers, sanitary sewers, and water mains.
EnTech, as part of the resident engineering inspection (REI) team, monitored the installation of more than 8,400 LF of new storm sewers along Victory Boulevard and adjoining streets, 90 new and 14 replacement catch basins, 6 cast-in-place storm sewer chambers, and 1 precast chamber. The team oversaw the installation of more than 20,000 LF of distribution water main made of concrete-lined ductile iron pipe, which replaced older cast iron pipes that were prone to cracking, as well as the replacement of lead water services with copper pipe. The team additionally oversaw the replacement of 50 fire hydrants, the addition of 11 new hydrants, the installation of new sidewalks, and the repaving of more than 44,000 SY of roadway. The project was completed on schedule.
A major component of the project was the construction of a new 1-acre Bluebelt wetland along the western edge of the project area, as part of a Best Management Practice (BMP) area for stormwater management. The Bluebelt stores and filters stormwater and directs it away from structures and toward a nearby wetland, through which it empties into Arthur Kill. The EnTech team was responsible for supervising the implementation of the BMP and the construction of the Bluebelt, which included maintaining a 24-hour reaction and settling tank, installing silt fence surrounding the wetland, placing riprap in graded areas to prevent erosion, and planting. EnTech staff contributed to the resolution of several project challenges, including the redesign of storm sewer alignments and elevations in a stretch where the planned alignment interfered with an existing sanitary sewer force main.
