On Aug. 21, Fair Oaks City Council held a workshop to discuss potential low water crossing changes during reconstruction.
What’s happening?
In February, the city entered an agreement with STV Inc. for engineering services for the project.
According to the meeting agenda, the project includes full-depth reconstruction, roadway widening to include a two-foot buffer on either side, drainage improvements and utility adjustments.
In agreement with the owners of the Post Oak property, a parcel of land is being allocated to soften the southern curve.
City Council was presented with three options for the low water crossings on the road, covering different levels of potential flooding.
Options included preparation for five-year, 10-year and 25-year flooding events, according to SVT Inc. representatives.
Flooding events are determined by the estimated percent chance of high levels of rainfall. For example, a 25-year flooding event is an event with an estimated 4% chance of occurring in any given year.
When City Council is considering the level of preparation they are comfortable with, they are determining the acceptable level of floodwaters going over the road, engineers said.
What they’re saying
City Council supported the potential of culverts that can handle 10-year flood events.
Councilmember Dale Pearson asked if the upcoming Post Oak development would impact projected flooding data. Post Oak representatives said the development would build retention ponds to capture and release rainwater to match existing conditions, meaning the development should not contribute to increased runoff.
Council member Jonathan Swarek advocated for the 10-year flood preparation, highlighting that the road currently has water go over the top of it rather than under it.
“The only thing that we can decide today is how often are we okay with [water] going over the top of that road,” Swarek said.
For these projects to be completed, the city will need to get approval from the property owners affected by low water crossing improvements.
While City Council suggested the 10-year flooding plan, a final decision will not be made until approval of the final design of the project, meaning the plan has the potential to be changed as the project moves forward. The current estimated project costs come between $6.5 and $6.7 million.
