As part of continued efforts to reduce street, yard and potential flooding issues along Chestwood Avenue, the City of Tallahassee is implementing the Chestwood Avenue Drainage Improvement Project. Residents on Chestwood Avenue have reported street and yard flooding that has come close to entering their homes. To address these issues, staff studied the existing hydrologic and hydraulic conditions of the project area and developed and evaluated engineering design alternatives.

The selected alternative consists of constructing an additional storm drain and high-capacity inlets along Chestwood Avenue to increase intake capacity and manage roadway runoff to reduce street and yard flooding.

The final engineering design of the project is underway, which includes preparation of construction documents and environmental permitting. Construction of the project is anticipated to take place in the spring and summer of 2020.

For additional information, please contact Fernando S. Francisco, E.I., City of Tallahassee Water Resources Engineering Division, at 891.6861, fernando.francisco@talgov.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will construction start, and how long will it last?
Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2020 and last approximately 5 months.

Will the project impact neighborhood trees?
The project improvements were designed to minimize impacts to existing trees, but unfortunately, not all impacts can be avoided, which will require some tree removal. Digging around the root system of a tree may harm the health of the tree and can increase the likelihood of it uprooting and toppling during high winds. The City is working with an arborist to develop mitigation strategies to preserve as many trees as possible and to identify those trees that will be impacted by construction activities.

Will construction be disruptive to the neighborhood? 
While construction of this type can be disruptive, the City will do everything possible to minimize inconveniences to residents. Construction hours will normally begin after sunrise and end prior to sunset, with no construction allowed on Sundays within the neighborhood. Roadway detours, if needed, will be clearly marked, so vehicular access to homes is always maintained.

Who will be in charge of construction?
The project will be constructed by Dowdy Plumbing Corporation; however, the City will oversee all construction activities and will have a full-time inspector available to address any issues that arise during construction. The City inspector is Jerry Reeves who may be reached at 850-545-6954.

Will this project prevent future flooding in the neighborhood?
Like other older neighborhoods in Tallahassee, Terrence Heights was developed without adequate drainage infrastructure, and to retrofit the neighborhood to today’s standards is not feasible. During intense rainfall events, Chestwood Avenue will still experience yard and roadway flooding during the most extreme events; however, the proposed project improvements will significantly reduce the frequency and severity of flooding conditions.

Who can I talk with if I have questions or concerns?
Please contact Fernando Francisco, E.I., City of Tallahassee Engineering Division at 850-891-6861 or 850-491-3677, fernando.francisco@talgov.com or City’s construction representative Mr. Jerry Reeves at 850-545-6954, jerry.reeves@talgov.com. Jerry is also available to meet one-on-one to discuss the project.