By Scott Etkin
Workers have repaired a collapsed section of pipe that drains stormwater from the 86th Street Transverse in Central Park, which has recently been a source of flooding during heavy rainstorms, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced earlier this week.
In late April, West Side Rag reported that the transverse was shut down for a Sunday and into early Monday morning when a foot of water collected in the roadway following heavy rains.
DEP discovered a collapsed section of pipe during an inspection using a remote TV camera. It turns out that roots from a mature London Plane tree had infiltrated the pipe. Arborists from the Central Park Conservancy estimate that the tree, more than three feet around, is between 80 and 100 years old.
DEP collaborated with the New York City Parks department forestry division and the Central Park Conservancy to fix the sewer without removing or damaging the tree, which has been designated for preservation. “Approximately 80 feet of new 24-inch reinforced concrete pipe has been rerouted around the tree, while the existing collapsed sewer will be abandoned in place to not disturb the tree’s roots,” according to the announcement. “Two new access manholes were installed at the pipe’s turning points.”
The project, which costs approx. $500,000 and is funded by the DEP, began in May. While the repairs on the collapsed section of sewer have been completed, DEP will periodically close the 86th Street Transverse to traffic overnight and during weekends in order to reinforce the sewer running below the transverse roadway. A spokesperson from DEP told WSR that this work is likely to continue though the end of July.
$6,250 per foot
Two manholes and 80 feet of pipe vs…20 feet of pipe and one less tree? I am a huge tree lover but this is a good example of the cost. Sigh. Glad the drain is fixed. Thanks for the details WSR!
What about the water that leaks onto the 97th street transverse (south side) through the retaining wall? It doesn’t cause flooding but if it is clean water is a major waste of water and if it is dirty water, it creates a freezing hazard in the winter that endangers drivers and cyclists (plus the few pedestrians) crossing the transverse. Also, I would expect it can lead to a catastrophic failure of the retaining wall.
Not saying it’s out of line (I don’t know drain repair costs) but $500K is a lot of dough!
Scott, thanks for this reporting. I smiled when I read that the 86th St. transverse has “recently” been a source of flooding. At least as early as the 1970s and well into the ‘80s that transverse would flood and become impassible every time it rained hard, or so it seemed. The more things change….
Central Park has been losing its oldest trees at an alarming rate. Sadly the inept “Conservancy” has only recently figured this out and increased new plantings. Saving this tree was important, as is saving all the old trees. Imagine the park without its leafy bower.