The gist
The overall contract allows the town to call Freese and Nichols to help with future drainage projects. When a new task is identified, the town will lay out the scope of the project and compensate Freese and Nichols accordingly.
The first drainage project will cost no more than $330,000 and includes data collection, design plans, construction phase services and updating the master drainage plan, according to town documents.
The improvements will focus on ditch grading, culvert repairs or replacements, and erosion control, according to town documents. Additionally, there will be roadway paving and culvert crossing improvements on East Harpole Road.
The improvements will be located:
- Along Ben Boyd Road from FM 407 to the cul-de-sac
- On a section of Hickory Ridge Court near East Hickory Ridge Circle
- On two sections of East Harpole Road starting at North Gibbons Road
Freese and Nichols will also create a drainage master plan over the next 24 months using Geographical Information Systems, hydrologic modeling and public input collection, per town documents. Additionally, Freese and Nichols will identify and prioritize drainage improvement projects.
The master plan will help the town proactively manage stormwater infrastructure, mitigate flood risk and plan for future improvements, according to town documents.
As the town develops, the master plan will be updated with new information when civil engineers for developments do their drainage studies.
“We would use [the drainage master plan] as a baseline for all the studies that would come after,” Director of Community Development Harrison Wicks said. “So any developer that wants to develop has to provide their own downstream assessment, flood study and impact study that would come with the development.”
Next steps
Once the town finalizes the contract with Freese and Nichols, they will work together to create construction documents for each site, Wicks said. The construction is anticipated to begin in the fall and be completed by February.
Minimal traffic impacts are expected and the town will work to ensure residents maintain access to the roads during construction.
