Virginia Beach receives $25 million for flood mitigation project in national competition
The Eastern Shore Drainage Improvement Project received more than $25 million from the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities national competition to fight flooding in Virginia Beach.
The event, hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was open to communities vulnerable to climate change and needing help with funding mitigation plans. Virginia Beach, Philadelphia and the District of Colombia Water and Sewer Authority were winners.
“This is going to save the taxpayers that $25 million and the saved money will be allocated to other flood remediation projects,” said Bradley Vanderwarker, the project manager.
The project follows the passage of a bond referendum in November 2021. It is one of five plans, including improvements to the Linkhorn Bay drainage basin, Windsor Woods, the Lake Bradford area, the Southern Watershed and the Central Beach district. The project will add four stormwater pump stations, automated tide gates and will deepen the Cape Henry Canal.
Lynnhaven Drive, North Great Neck Road and parts of Ebb Drive also will be raised to withstand a sea level rise of 7 feet, and storm pipes will be improved to handle more water. Additional pipes are proposed to be installed off Shore Drive and North Great Neck Road.
Construction should not cause traffic problems, Vanderwarker said. Work on the Lynnhaven Drive and Lynnhaven Colony Park pump stations, and on the Cape Henry Canal is expected to be completed in 2026.
The design process for the Vista Circle pump station is expected to begin in 2024 with construction in 2029.
Everett Eaton, 262-902-7896, everett.eaton@virginiamedia.com
