Emergency stormwater repair on tap for Brookhaven City Council

Multiple pipe failures are the cause for expedited repairs

Brookhaven, Ga, Feb. 27, 2020 – “This problem has been dozens of years in the making, and now it is a critical emergency,” noted Brookhaven Public Works Director Hari Karikaran as he  stood at the intersection of Inman Drive and Saybrook Drive, an umbrella in one hand and a camera in the other. Nearby, a torrent of brackish water crossed the road which made driving treacherous and walking almost impossible.

“There are very old pipes running under these roads, and at least two of the larger ones are completely out of commission,” said Karikaran.  “There is not a quick fix for this.  These must be replaced.”

Karikaran is submitting an emergency purchase order for consideration at the Brookhaven City Council’s meeting on March 10, but it will come as no surprise.

“Now we are looking at a complete overhaul of the stormwater system at this location as soon as possible,” said Council Member Linley Jones.

“This is one of the several aging drainage structures identified in our annual stormwater assessment and inspection program,” said Mayor John Ernst. “In addition to identifying the problems with our stormwater infrastructure and prioritizing to capital improvements, our Public Works Department makes annual improvement recommendations to keep our drainage system functioning.”

The repairs will include excavating the existing 24” and 12” pipes and replacing them with a single 36” pipe and headwalls on both sides of Inman Drive.  Additional drainage inlets will be installed to capture surface flow from all three directions. During this time, Inman and/or Saybrook will be closed and detour signs will be posted.  The repairs are expected to begin on March 16 and last for three weeks.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding from residents in the immediate area as we get to the root of this problem.  This area has transitioned from an annoyance to a safety issue, and we need to take care of it once and for all,” added Karikaran.