This project involves the emergency replacement of the SR 0092 Section EMG (locally known as Exeter Avenue) culvert over Hicks Creek in Exeter Borough, Luzerne County. The project is necessary because the existing SR 0092 roadway and culvert have partially collapsed and were in need of immediate replacement. NTM’s services included the hydrologic and hydraulics (H&H) analysis and a GP-11 for the replacement of the existing SR 0092 culvert and for the replacement of the existing stormwater outfall.
A 21’ by 15’ elliptical corrugated metal pipe culvert collapsed after a water main broke under the road causing a combined sewer pipe to break and eventually the culvert carrying Hicks Creek under SR 0092 to collapse around 3:30 pm, Saturday, February 16, 2019. An Emergency Declaration was enacted by PennDOT’s Secretary’s office requiring an expedited approach to design of the project. An emergency meeting was called at the site to evaluate the best options for repair and included PennDOT, DEP Fish and Boat Commission, water company, and utilities. SR 0092 is a major throughway for tractor trailers that utilize nearby warehouses and had to be immediately closed. The route is the only access to the north in the vicinity and a detour of about three miles had to be created. The project involved close coordination with the water company, municipal authority, overhead utilities, and PA DEP to obtain permits and avoid construction delays.
Temporary repairs were discussed, but the timeline for preliminary engineering and final design was compressed so that a temporary solution became obsolete, thus saving valuable time and ultimately money. The proposed structure was a 24’ wide by 10’-7” single-span concrete arch culvert.
Extremely close coordination with the primes structural design team was required for timing and constructability. The H&H were complicated by a downstream levee culvert with flap gate into the Susquehanna river, and a history of Hicks Creek flooding the borough of Exeter. The H&H report was completed and submitted within two weeks of NTP and received agency approval upon first submission. The project cost about $2 million to complete.