7-21-16: Construction update

During the past month, the state Rail Trail contractor completed clearing trees and is in the process of removing stumps and stripping, screening and stockpiling topsoil along the old rail corridor.  The trees were predominantly invasive Norway Maples which took over much of the corridor after the trains ceased running decades ago, and many were in decline.  While some people were dismayed by the extent of tree and vegetation removal, a significant majority of abutters and other citizens supported removing as many trees as possible due to a desire to open up the corridor and concerns about the trees’ dense shade, risk to property during storms, and crowding out of other species.  Representatives of the City, state, and contractor worked closely with a number of abutters to accommodate requests to remove additional trees as well as preserve some trees.

The contractor has also been digging multiple test pits to clarify the exact location of underground infrastructure in the corridor and the associated streets.  Underground work is always a challenge due to the unknowns beneath the surface, as existing plans often do not have completely accurate information.  The contractor is finishing determining the exact location of various buried electrical, gas, sewer, water, and drainage lines, and making adjustments to the location and installation approach for drainage lines and structures and retaining walls.  Looking ahead, the contractor will install a new overflow stormwater drain line and associated drainage structures underneath Water Street in mid-August, which will require some temporary traffic disruption in the vicinity of Joppa Park.  (Note that the City is also conducting some periodic sidewalk work further to the east along Water Street which is unrelated to the Rail Trail project.)  We apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciates everyone’s patience.  After the street work is done, the contractor will move inland along the trail corridor in order to install the underground water infiltration system.  There is currently little to no existing infrastructure for managing stormwater in the rail corridor and surrounding area which is prone to flooding during storms, so the Rail Trail project is installing a substantial system of catch basins, perforated pipes for storage and controlled discharge of stormwater, overflow connections from intersecting courts, and an outfall connection at Water Street.

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