July 9 Rainstorm Dumped 5 to 7 Inches On Radnor: Officials

The July 9 rainstorm resulted in eight water rescues and exceeded the capacity of a new stormwater project on South Wayne Avenue designed to alleviate flooding, Steve Norcini, township engineer, said Monday.

Norcini said 5 to 7 inches of rain fell on the township, which has experienced flooding for many years.

A dozen vehicles were towed, Superintendent of Police Chris Flanagan said.

Norcini said that this is more rain than the new system can handle.

The new system has underground stormwater storage beneath the South Wayne municipal parking lot.

When empty, the storage can hold 253,000 gallons of water. The system also connects to another system of 350,000 gallons.

The July 9 rain was considered a severe weather event, dumping over 450,000 gallons of water in downtown Wayne.

There are areas of South Wayne Avenue that have historically flooded that did not flood as a result of the new stormwater system, according to a news release.

“This is more rain than the system can handle,” he said. “We are in the news, but not in a good way.”

In a related stormwater issue, the township commissioners Monday night unanimously approved a $2.2 million project to replace a culvert and retaining wall on Chamounix Road.
Richard E. Pierson Construction Co., Inc., Pilesgrove, N.J., is the general contractor.