The construction of a new coastal stormwater management system will soon resume in Naples.
To mark the occasion, the city is inviting the public to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the next phase of the multimillion-dollar project.
The event is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Oct. 15, at the Third Avenue North beach end.
The city’s public works director has described the project as a “massive” undertaking. It will include the installation of about 6,000 feet of new stormwater pipes, varying in size from 24 to 54 inches.
The project will remove eight of the stormwater outfalls – or large pipes – lining the city’s beaches, as directed by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection more than a decade ago.
The new management system, including two new pumps, is designed to reduce street flooding, water pollution and beach erosion. It will pump excess water 1,500 feet into the Gulf of Mexico, through new underground drainage pipes.
Planning for the project began in 2011 after the Florida Department of Environmental Protection notified the city that if it didn’t take action the state agency would no longer approve permits for beach renourishment — or restoration — in Naples.
The city has already spent more than $11.5 million on the long-anticipated project, including engineering and directional drilling for the new submerged pipes from the beach end at Third Avenue North into the Gulf.
Ultimately, the system could cost the city more than $86.2 million, with a chunk of it covered by state and county dollars.
Miguel Flores, the project manager, said it’s expected to take about 27 months to complete, starting in late October, or early November.
The groundbreaking ceremony will recognize the efforts and support of project partners, stakeholders, and thecommunity.
Speakers will include Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, and City Manager Jay Boodheshwar.
Additionally, Bob Middleton, the public works director, will give an overview of the project.
Previous coverage: Long-awaited stormwater project in Naples to start in January
At council meetings, Boodheshwar has emphasized the need to get to the “finish line,” with a complicated, but essential project that’s necessary to stop the flow of untreated, polluted stormwater to the Gulf through a gravity system that contributes to toxic red tide and algae blooms.
The blooms don’t just affect residents. They can also drive away tourists, hurting the local economy, as seen in years past.
Passidomo has fought for project funding at the state level, saying it will result in “cleaner, more vibrant beaches.”
In her funding request last year, she wrote: “The citizens will benefit from this project by no longer worrying about swimming where untreated stormwater is released. This project will substantially reduce pollutant loading into the Gulf of Mexico. Shoreline habitat will be improved. It will improve flood protection to over $5 billion of assessed property (going from a 5-year storm event level of service to a 25-year storm event). Lastly, it will improve transportation services, emergency response services by making the city more resilient to climate change.”
More: Naples secures $31.5 million for local projects in state budget, including the Naples Pier
To accommodate the groundbreaking event, the city will close off beach parking from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Second Avenue North, Third Avenue North and Fourth Avenue North.
For more information and to sign up for project updates, visit www.naplesgov.com.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples to resume construction of critical coastal stormwater system
