A construction project designed to reduce flooding and improve emergency access in Fayetteville’s Locks Creek neighborhood is scheduled to begin Monday, Oct. 19.
The project will include drainage, roadway and utility improvements near the neighborhood’s primary entrance. Portions of Locks Creek Road will be closed during construction, and drivers should allow additional travel time.
Larger culvert and elevated roadway planned
Crews will replace the existing drainage culvert with a larger reinforced-concrete structure. The roadway at the neighborhood entrance will also be raised to provide additional protection during storms.
The work is intended to help residents and emergency responders enter and leave the neighborhood when heavy rain causes water to rise near the entrance.
Fayetteville received a $999,135 Disaster Mitigation Grant through the North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Emergency Management Disaster Relief and Mitigation Fund for the project.
The city previously said improving the culvert and roadway would create a safer and more reliable route for residents, commuters and emergency vehicles.
Utility work included
Construction will also include replacing approximately 70 feet of water line, along with valves and related connections.
An existing sewer connection will be replaced with approximately 105 feet of new sewer pipe. Pavement and concrete affected by the utility work will be repaired or replaced, and crews will resurface portions of Locks Creek Road and Carriage Street.
Detour during construction
Portions of Locks Creek Road will remain closed while the project is underway. Residents should use Carriage Street and L.A. Dunham Road as their primary route into and out of the neighborhood.
Emergency access and other necessary traffic will be coordinated throughout construction. Drivers should use caution around workers and equipment and watch for changing traffic patterns.
City officials caution that the project is focused on improving the neighborhood entrance. It is not expected to eliminate every flooding problem along Locks Creek, significantly lower water levels throughout the surrounding area or remove properties from designated flood-hazard areas.
Flooding within the neighborhood may still occur during significant storms. The improvements are intended to reduce the risk of the main access road becoming impassable and provide residents with a more dependable route during severe weather.
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