And Other Eastmoor Area Stormwater Improvements

Background: Over the years, the City of Columbus has received numerous flooding complaints in the Bliss Run Watershed.  The watershed boundaries are approximately: 17^th Ave. (north), Weyant Ave. (east), Alum Creek/Scottwood Rd. (south), and Cassady Ave./Stanwood Rd.  (west).   Total watershed area is over 2500 acres.  Bliss Run was originally an open channel from just south of 17^th Avenue south to Alum Creek at Twin Lakes.  By the 1950’s, Bliss Run north of Livingston Ave. (at Kenwick Road) was enclosed in a storm sewer.   

1993 – (coinciding with the creation of the Columbus Stormwater Utility Fund) – Bliss Run Trunk Sewer Improvements Capital Improvement Project (CIP) 923 went into design in response to Eastmoor area flooding complaints. 

1995 - Phase I study/report completed - existing storm sewer is inadequately sized to quickly convey drainage from the watershed - several improvements in the watershed were identified.  Nature and extent of problems, watershed size, and high costs make solutions extremely complex – some smaller improvements completed; others in various stages of planning, design, easement acquisition and construction.

• Project goal:  to mitigate area street and yard flooding by constructing storm sewer improvements.
• Project construction area:  from Alum Creek at Twin Lakes/Roads End to Fair Ave. between James Rd. and Brookside Drive.
• Trunk sewer size: will range from a 12' x 8' concrete box to a 5' diameter circular pipe.  It is believed to be the largest separate storm sewer that Columbus has ever built. 
• Project Schedule:  The project was divided into three phases, due to complexity, costs, and attempt to minimize impact on surrounding neighborhoods  (see map link below)
  • Phase 1 – Roads End and Haddon Road between Alum Creek and Roosevelt Ave.; construction completed in 2003.
  • Phase 2 – Haddon Rd., Dover Rd., and Eastmoor Blvd. between Roosevelt and Brownlee Aves;  construction completed in 2006.
  • Phase 3 – Eastmoor Blvd., Mound St., and Kellner Rd. between Brownlee Rd. and Fair Ave.; construction began spring 2006 and completion is expected in June 2008.

Six localized improvements were also constructed (CIP 969):

57 S. James Rd., 683 S. Kellner Rd., 303 S. Hampton Rd. (east of James Rd.), 222 S. Harding Rd., Cassady Avenue/Avalon Place, and Roosevelt Ave. at Ruhl Rd.  The last two sites are located in the northern part of the watershed, north of Broad St.   

Three secondary improvements will be designed and constructed following completion of the trunk sewer:  

• CIP 976 – Maryland Ave. Drainage Project (north of Broad St.)
• CIP 977 – Ashburton/Mayfair Drainage Improvements (east of James Rd.)
• CIP 978 – Ashburton/Dale Drainage Improvements (east of James Rd.)

Other improvements recently constructed in the general area that are not part of the Bliss Run project:

• CIP 872 - Napoleon Ave/Broad St. Storm Sewer (east of James Rd.)
• CIP 960 – Bexvie Avenue Stormwater Improvements (Berwyn East)