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Politics & Government

New Construction to Combat Flooding

Fox Point is finalizing a new construction project that will battle future flooding.

The Village of Fox Point is now taking bids for a renovation of the North Beach Drive ravine. This will be a $169,000 face-lift, planned to start July 1, in hopes to combat future flooding.  The ravine is a major outlet for storm water to flow into Lake Michigan. Bids must be placed by 2 p.m. this Wednesday at village hall. 

The west portion of the ravine was mitigated about five years ago.  Now the east portion, specifically basin number five, will undergo construction to reduce the intensity of water flow.  The task is expected to take eight weeks.

Fox Point hired contractor Kapur & Associates Inc. of Glendale to handle the project, and Village Engineer and Director of Public Works, Scott Brandmeier, says a large portion of the cost isn’t being paid by the village.

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“The construction cost estimate is about $169,000 in total,” said Brandmeier.  “But, the village has a grant from the Department of Commerce for $75,000.”

The grant is more specifically called a Community Development Block Grant – Emergency Assistance Program (CDBG – EAP).  It will help cover the cost of construction. The village will pay for the remaining $94,000.

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And there is plenty to be done to the ravine. 

The construction will stabilize about 560 feet of the ravine bed and slopes with geotextile fabric, heavy riprap and erosion matting.  They will also vacuum out the existing catch basin and the three pipe connections between the basin and storm manhole to get rid of any blockage, and let water flow freely.  Finally, there will be reconstruction of the one existing storm sewer manhole.

In addition to the ravine construction, the team will remove and replace a portion of the existing sidewalk. 

Brandmeier explained that Fox Point is also taking steps to increase the longevity of the project, so construction like this won’t be needed as often.

“We’re going to be placing three check-dams about 10 feet upstream of each of the catch basins,” he said.  “Check dams are reinforced wire wrap, so in low-flow events, it’ll hold back debris so it won’t plug the basis.”

The chosen contractor will be announced Feb. 8.

View the Patch.com video and photos to get a better understanding of the area prior to construction. 

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