SOUTHWICK – Residents on Lexington Circle are set to see relief this summer from an erosion problem that could threaten the road.
Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Jeffrey Neece said there is major erosion that stemmed from a drainage problem.
“It’s a slow work in progress to its failure,” said Neece.
The problem is that a detention pond has an inlet and outlet at the same height. The outflow travels through a pipe under Lexington Circle and empties out into a wooded area.
“It was not designed for regular flow,” said Neece. “It’s supposed to be like a safety valve.”
Because the outflow is too low, water is constantly flowing under the road and has caused major erosion on the side of a hill, which has homes on two sides of it. Homeowners have pleaded with the Board of Selectmen to find a solution. Neece said he is working with Town Planner Alan Slessler to do just that.
“Alan has an extensive background as an engineer,” Neece said. “I’m happy we can work on this together.”
The erosion has created a massive hole approximately 80 feet wide, 50 feet deep and 400 feet long.
Neece said the developer has “washed his hands” of the situation and the town is left to fix the problem before it gets worse.
“If we don’t fix it now it will wash out the road,” said Neece.
Soil that covered the drainiage pipe has completely washed away, leaving the pipe exposed. Dozens of whole, healthy trees have fallen into the giant hole, and Neece is concerned that residents could slide into it if they get too close.
Neece said the erosion has taken place over the past few years and Tropical Storm Irene, downgraded from a hurricane last year, took a big toll on it.
“It has just gotten worse since the hurricane,” he said.
Neece said he expects Slessler to spend an hour or two a week working on the design to fix the problem, which should be completed this spring.
“We could be ready with a design this spring and go out to bid, or use our contracted vendors,” said Neece.
Neece expects the work – from design to construction – to be complete in late summer.
