SMITHFIELD – For years residents in the Pine Acres community along East Market Street near College Road have dealt with flooding. During heavy rains, streets frequently flood and the water takes some time to drain away.
One of the worst areas is along Cedar Drive where the street flooded in August during a thunderstorm.
On September 7th, the Smithfield Town Council approved a low bid of $131,072 to make storm drainage improvements. The Town will use American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA) funds for the infrastructure project.
Councilman Travis Scott said he was concerned about this and other areas of Smithfield that have stormwater runoff issues. Officials said the project would help but not eliminate the stormwater issues along Cedar Drive.
Mayor Andy Moore recommended the council approve the project. The measure passed unanimously.
The contractor with the low bid, James Paul Edwards Inc., is expected to begin work on Cedar Drive within a few weeks. It will include a larger underground stormwater drainage pipe and new inlets to help move water runoff away from the area quicker.
A second bid from another area contractor was submitted for $156,262 but was rejected.
