When Inweekly sat down with Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown in December 2014, he discussed the challenges of making stormwater repairs and improvements after April 2014 floods.
The county’s approach was different than the City of Pensacola’s.
“We’re looking at what’s some of the low-hanging fruit, where we can do some projects to take before the board to demonstrate that not only are we fixing the damage,” he said, “but we’re looking at other initiatives that we can do in a timely manner.â€
Four months later on the anniversary of the flood, the administrator pointed out that 89 projects valued at $10.3 million had been approved for Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance.
Of those, 23 projects totaling $4 million had been completed as of April 30. Sixteen Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program projects had been completed at a total cost of $2.5 million.
Additionally, the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection made $3 million in funding available to complete the following several projects, including Crescent Lake and Ten Mile Creek.
Here is just a sample of the county’s projects taken from its website, many will be completed by April 2016:
Alysheba Drive/Viver Nell Lane Ditch: Original scope of work completed. Supplemental pond improvements are being implemented November through January 2016
Chimney Pines Flood Repair: Construction December 2015 – April 2016
Colonade Circle & Devonshire Circle Drainage Improvements: Construction December 2015 – April 2016
Crescent Lake
Blue Springs Avenue Permanent Repair Project – completed August 2015
Crescent Lake Sediment Removal Project – completed. To be reimbursed by FEMA
Crescent Lake Dam Restoration Project – completion date March 2016
East Shore Drainage Outfall Project – completion date April 2016
Merlin Road Area Drainage Analysis –Construction February 2016-May 2016
Rebel Road Drainage Improvements -Construction May 2016-October 2016
Shadow Grove Drainage Analysis -Construction May 2016-November 2016
South Bay Subdivision -Construction December 2015-March 2016
Wilde Lake Blvd -Construction December 2015-March 2016
Woodbridge Manor Road/Oak Valley Drive Repairs -Construction November-December 2015
Almax Court & North 52nd -Construction January 2016-May 2016.
Coral Creek Drainage West -Construction Delayed Pending Easement
Estates at Emerald Shores -Construction complete for Pond 536. Construction of secondary outfall pending drainage easement acquisition.
Grande Lagoon Subdivision Drainage Evaluation
Phase 1 – Construction began; 50% Complete
Phase II – Design & Permitting Anticipated to begin Spring 2016. Construction to begin Early 2017
Innerarity Point Road Area Drainage
Gotham-Construction to begin February 2016
Coronada-Construction Completed
Water Spray- Construction 90% Complete
Jackson Lakes Improvements Diversion: Construction November 2015-February 2016
Lake Charlene Road Reconstruction
Phase 1: Completed
Phase 2: Construction 95% Completed
Navy Point Drainage Phase III -Construction 98% Completed.
Old Corry Field Road Bridge (South) ridges -Bidding & Construction Anticipated to begin March 2017
Prieto Drive – underway, completion March 2016