Drainage work will cause detours

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The contractor started setting up equipment for the Houston Street Storm Drain project Wednesday morning. The work signals the end of a legal battle between the City of Mobile and Mobile Area Water and Sewer that started in January 2011.

That's when the city stopped a MAWSS project on Houston, and demanded the utility not just repair, but upgrade the drainage system.

Mobile City Council Member William Carroll told Fox Ten News in 2011 why the city wanted MWASS to pay for the drainage work.

"The ordinance is very clear. The ordinance covers sidewalk to sidewalk and everywhere in between. What's damaged or destroyed is the responsibility of the contractor or the party involved," Carroll said.

Last March, a judge ruled in the city's favor. It means MWASS will pay the bulk of the bill which now exceeds $1 million. But, utility spokesperson Barbara Shaw said the city will have to cover some of the expense.

"It was a long drawn out dispute. But, in the end the city did contribute to the project. So, they are paying $75,000 toward that storm drain which is going in the center of Houston Street, which is what we thought should have happened to begin with," Shaw said.

Of course, while the work is underway it's going to be an inconvenience for a lot of people who will have to detour around a pretty big section of Houston.

Iris Bradley lives in the area. She welcomes any drainage work. Bradley said she picks up trash on her daily walk with her dog just to try to keep the storm drains clear.

"Just last week, I cleaned out this storm drain that you're standing on right here because it does flood in this area," Bradley said.

The temporary asphalt that has been in place since the lawsuit started will be torn up so that a new storm drain can be run down the middle of Houston Street.

"What they will be getting in this final phase is a new 18 inch storm drain. We'll be replacing the curbs, the driveways that were damaged, any sidewalks that were damaged, and they will be getting a completely new street." Shaw said.

So will the new drain eliminate the problem of street flooding in midtown Mobile?

"With this new drain it will be improved. I'll say that, it will be improved," she said.

The engineering firm of McCrory and Williams will oversee the project for MAWSS. Construction Labor Services (CLS) and Asphalt Services are the contractors who will do the remaining work.

Residents were assured at a July 24 public meeting that mail and garbage pick-up would continue as usual.

Contractors will identify each home's can, move it to the end of the street for pickup on the scheduled pick up day and return the cans in the afternoon.

The staging work which got underway Wednesday was supposed to happen last week, but Hurricane Isaac delayed the work. MAWSS officials said they still expect to complete the job by mid November.

Shaw also provided this additional background on the Houston Street project:

The work involves water a sewer line replacement on Houston Street between Dauphin and Conti Streets. As well as public lateral replacements for a portion of homes between Conti and Government Street.

Original Project start date: April 2010