Downtown Drainage Improvement Project

Originally built 80-100 years ago, the drainage system in Rocky Mount’s Historic Central District consists of arched-shaped culverts made of hand-laid bricks that might make history buffs smile in any other setting. However, as a vital component of infrastructure meant to protect the public and development from flooding, these tunnels are coming to the end of their useful life and represent a significant risk to the safety of citizens and the vitality of the downtown district.

The original drainage system consisted of varying-sized pipe arches located under multiple downtown buildings. With the existing system providing a two-year level of service, the project’s objective was to bring the system up to the city’s standard level of service of 50 years for industrial drainage systems. Additionally, the project incorporates green infrastructure design elements to reduce localized flooding in the downtown area, realign sections of stormwater pipe to remove them from under existing buildings, and integrate nature-based solutions within planned parking and green space areas. The natural elements provide benefits such as shade in a traditionally exposed area and break up the traditional hardscape with some vibrancy.

Want to know more? Check out the project’s StoryMap.