Batavia Council OKs $1.2M for completion of storm sewer work

Four year project’s final phase to be completed this summer

Batavia City Hall

BATAVIA – Batavia is pressing ahead with the final phase of a massive, four-year storm sewer engineering project designed to eliminate flooding on the southeast side of the community.

The Batavia City Council on April 19 awarded a contract for $1.2 million to low-bidder Performance Construction to complete the work, which has aimed to enlarge the stormwater system’s capacity in an area generally bounded by Pine Street on the north, Raddant Road on the west, Giese Road on the south and Kirk Road on the east.

It was this neighborhood that suffered significant flooding problems during a June 15, 2015, rainstorm that inundated streets, sidewalks, driveways, yards and a few home basements.

The third stage of work was completed in 2020 and included storm sewer construction along Chillem Drive between Bluestem Lane and Raddant Road and also Rye Court. In addition to the new storm sewer, water mains were replaced because of the age of the pipe and history of frequent breaks in this area.

This year’s work will include primarily 24-inch to 36-inch diameter storm sewer replacement along Bluestem Lane, Lexington Lane, Cardinal Court and Orchard Court, Batavia Civil Engineer Timothy Grimm said.

The new storm sewer will connect to the new storm sewer line installed in 2019 at Bluestem and continue west along Lexington to Dover Court, Grimm said.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of August, Grimm said.

First Ward Alderman Michael O’Brien, in whose ward the project is located, has been a vocal advocate for over-engineering stormwater infrastructure, arguing that climate change is resulting in more frequent heavy rainfalls and that flooding in the community is not acceptable.

Meanwhile, City Administrator Laura Newman said work on the storm sewer project along Main Street is expected to be completed this spring.