A project to restore eroded banks located near a northeast Arlington neighborhood is now complete. In January 2012, the Water Utilities and Public Works departments began a streambank stabilization project – using a more natural solution – to address serious erosion near a manhole and 27” sanitary sewer line located in a tributary to the Trinity River.
“The City of Arlington chose a sustainable, cost-effective method to stabilize approximately 700 feet of the creek,” said Mandy Clark, Stormwater Engineering Operations Manager. “This method is much more natural and pleasing to the eye than a hard surface solution.”
Because of the urgent nature of the project, City Council members approved the River Rock Circle Project in May 2011. A few months later, City Council members approved a contract with Plano-based Sanco Design, experts in analysis, design and remediaton of problem drainage, erosion and soil stability.
Choosing the more natural solution for the project was a new approach for city leaders. In the past, the city typically dealt with erosion by stabilizing the banks with a hard surface such as gabions or concrete.
By utilizing geo-grids, weirs and drop structures, the city saved local taxpayers at least $160,000. While the final cost of the project was $1.14 million, using gabions alone would have cost more than $1.3 million and does not include the costs for engineering, excavation, fill drop structures or headwall.
“Stabilization will minimize future erosion and require minimal maintenance,” Clark explained. “Adjacent property owners are pleased with the result and several other cities and engineers have visited the site to learn about these methods for use in other areas.”
Clark says the performance of the stabilization methods will be monitored.
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