MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Residents in the Popenoe Run area have been infiltrated by engineers, construction companies, and laborers with the long-awaited start of drainage improvements. The project is funded by the city of Morgantown, the Monongalia County Commission, and the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB).
The events resulted in a $40,000 contract with Strand Associates to conduct a flood control study.
In the summer of 2021, the area was washed out by two 100-year storm events. The project includes the replacement of about 3,000 feet of 60-year-old clay tile and restoration of about 3,000 feet of the Popenoe Run tributary.
MUB General Manager Mike McNulty said a pre-construction meeting with the contractor, Laurita, Inc., Morgantown officials, and county commissioners was held at the site prior to the start of operations.
McNulty said they are preparing to remove trees and staking the location of future drainage structures along the project.
“They’ve already walked the project area, and materials are being ordered now,” McNulty said. “So, I think they’ve already started to stake the project.”
All parties are optimistic a key 48-inch storm sewer crossing of Stewart Street can be completed this year that will allow other unrelated drainage projects in the area to proceed.
“This will allow for the improvements to Idlewood Drive to be completed as well,” McNulty said. “And those are future improvements by the DOH.”
Also underway is the water and sewer extension under the Monongahela River, valued at about $13 million, to increase growth capacity in the Chaplin Hill/Mylan Park area. Bear Contracting is completing the water extension, and they began work in mid-October.
“They’ve installed around 750 feet of 16″ PVC pipe to date,” Rogers said. “We anticipate having the majority of the waterline from the existing booster station to the new booster station installed by mid-November.”
Anderson Excavating is under contract to complete the sewer extension for the project. They began work in mid-October as well and have completed one directional bore.
“They’ve completed one directional bore of 75 feet on a 12-inch forced main,” Rogers said. “They are working on the second, which is about 1,350 feet of forced main.”