Drainage problems

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Waymon Martin, a heavy equipment operator with the Thomasville Utilities Public Works Street Department, helps dig around a damaged storm drainage pipe on Gordon Avenue Thursday. Teresa Williams/Times-Enterprise

July 9, 2010

City taking steps to get to the root of the problem

Teresa Williams CNHI The Times Enterprise Fri Jul 09, 2010, 07:50 PM EDT

THOMASVILLE — Motorists driving along Gordon Avenue will be seeing caution cones and sawhorses near its intersection with Neel Place.

Thomasville Utilities Public Works Street Department Foreman Mike Franklin said this is due to a cave-in of storm drainage materials underneath the road.

“We think it happened when we had the last rainstorm a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “You can’t determine the problem from the surface; you have to dig in order to find it. That’s what we’ve been doing.”

Communications Officer Greg Lawrence said the city is still in assessment phase regarding the problem.

“At this time, it is believed that a nearby oak tree’s roots grew into the underlying storm drain, causing it to give way,” he said. “Public works crews have stabilized the area and have examined the surrounding drainage pipe for damage.”

Franklin explained water also has pushed the road up along the affected area, which is approximately 200 feet. The city is currently using alternate drainage routes near the affected area that are able to handle most of the water.

Assistant City Manager of Customer Service Lynn Williams said Gordon Avenue is open at this time while staff determines the best way to fix the problem.

Holes have been covered with protective metal slabs and blocked off with cones and sawhorses.

Motorists are asked to drive with caution.

“The next step will be for the city engineering department to work with public works staff to determine the extent of the damage and the best course of action for repair,” Lawrence said.

“Depending on their findings, the city will either repair the storm drain and roadway using in-house resources or, if the damage is found to be extensive, will have the repair work performed by outside contractors.”