Emergency Storm Drain Repairs Move Forward In Milpitas

MILPITAS, CA — Milpitas City Manager Ned Thomas has transmitted an emergency declaration to the mayor and councilmembers, outlining plans to repair and improve the storm drain system in two areas ahead of winter's arrival.

The memo cites forecasts predicting a strong El Niño pattern continuing through the winter, which could fan a wetter season and powerful storms, necessitating action to address issues exacerbated during the last active winter.

"During the winter of 2022, the San Francisco Bay region experienced twelve atmospheric rivers which culminated into high-than-average stormwater runoff into the city's storm drain network," the memo reads in part. "The system, which is currently unfunded, and, as a result, adding and deteriorating, experienced failures through the winter season."

Thomas said city crews took precautions to mitigate some impacts, but two locations suffered failures that exceeded capacity.

The first project will repair and rehabilitate the storm drain pipeline and inlet, located on the north side of Evans Road, which Thomas said are corroded and cannot carry stormwater. The second project will complete overdue maintenance on systems along Piedmont Creek and Piedmont Road.

According to the memo, Public Works engineers developed a low-cost solution and designed the projects over the summer before submitting the plan to bidders. Able Construction showed interest in the job and provided a cost estimate of $137,519 to complete both projects.