Leveraging Existing Right-of-Way to Improve Stormwater Quality and Aesthetics
See how the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has taken a need to treat impervious surfaces in the right of way, including its roadways and turned it into something more for both they and the Town of Beaufort. In the late 2010’s the planned realignment of Highway 70 and the bridge from Morehead City over Town Creek into Beaufort was taken offline and traffic redirected allowing for multifunctional use of Cedar Street within the Town. In order to comply with their TS4 permit NCDOT is required to build retrofits across the state, treating existing impervious surfaces in an effort to decrease their environmental footprint. NCDOT Hydraulics Unit seized the opportunity to be able to place stormwater controls along the corridor. By changing the alignment of Highway 70 to be redirected over Town Creek along the Beaufort Bypass, the thru-traffic demands on Cedar Street within the Town were decreased and more room was made available to achieve this goal. By treating this stormwater it not only satisfies NCDOT commitments it also filters and cleans stormwater runoff from an urban area draining directly to Town Creek and ultimately Bogue Sound. The stormwater controls NCDOT installed will not only improve water quality and provide additional drainage but will also improve the appearance and walkability of Cedar Street. This benefit directly impacts the citizens and summer tourists along the corridor which in-turn will create economic development for the businesses and Town itself. There are also plans just east of this park, along the north side of Cedar Street, to permit and construct a moderated sized high-end hotel bringing additional tourists and potentially restaurants to follow.Author Bio
Hear how the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is levering their state stormwater permit requirements to adapt to increasing rain events and treating runoff in the Town of Beaufort, one of North Carolina’s oldest towns as well as helping to reimagine the Cedar Street corridor aesthetically and for pedestrians.
