Storm Drain Repair Could Impact Palm Bay Road Traffic

By  //  February 21, 2014

storm water drain on verge of collapse

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BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Public Works crews spent Friday sandbagging and shoring up an area beneath the Palm Bay Road and Minton Road intersection, where an aging storm water drain pipe is apparently on the verge of collapse.

John Denninghoff
John Denninghoff

Some areas around the metal drainage pipe have been shored up and were bolstered with sandbags to fend off additional compromise from forecasted Friday afternoon thunderstorms, said Brevard County Public Works Director John Denninghoff.

Pumps are in place to assist the flow of water through the 7.5-foot diameter pipe in the event of heavy rainfall. The stormwater drain, which runs parallel to Minton Road at the intersection,  flows to the south toward Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District.

Denninghoff said portions of the stormwater drain, which is 140 feet long, are more than 30 years old.

An investigation of the pipe on Friday indicated about an 18-inch void had developed between the bottom of the road surface and the top of the pipe. Splits were also discovered in the metal sidewalls of the pipe. Steel plates have been installed to bolster the roadway

The stormwater drain, which runs parallel to Minton Road at the intersection,  flows to the south toward Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District. Portions of the stormwater drain, which is 140 feet long, are more than 30 years old.
The stormwater drain, which runs parallel to Minton Road at the intersection, flows to the south toward Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District. Portions of the stormwater drain, which is 140 feet long, are more than 30 years old.

“The road is safe for use,” Denninghoff said Friday.

In the meantime, Denninghoff said his office, in coordination with the cities of Palm Bay and West Melbourne, is working to develop a long range plan for a permanent fix. He asked motorists to be patient and to plan alternate routes once work begins to replace the stormwater drain.

Traffic analysis indicates the intersection handles an estimated 70,000 vehicles  a day. From Minton Road headed east, Palm Bay Road is a heavily traveled business corridor and handles traffic flow toward Interstate 95.

“We’re in the process of formulating what we’re going to do with it,” Denninghoff said of the stormwater drain. “Whatever we do will take a coordinated effort.”