Anne Arundel County September 17, 2019 DPW/WPRP

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SHIPLEY’S CHOICE DAM REHABILITATION PROJECT PROJECT UPDATE

In an effort to keep the community updated on the construction project to remove the Shipley’s Choice Dam, this project update will be distributed to Homeowners Associations and other interested parties via email.

1. Official Project Name. Shipley’s Choice Dam Rehabilitation Project: The project will be referred to as the Shipley’s Dam Project in this document.

2. Project Background. Visit the County website for the Shipley’s Dam Project for this information. The website address is: https://www.aacounty.org/departments/public-works/engineering/Capital_Projects/shipleys-choice-dam-rehabilitation

3. Recent Activities. The following construction was accomplished during the past month. Refer to the construction photos at the end of this document. a. Paydirt’s utility subcontractor, Ferguson Trenching, completed installation of the new

gravity sanitary sewer which runs parallel to Bear Branch. The existing sewer had to be relocated to make room for the new box culvert under West Benfield Road.

b. Paydirt installed large sandbags upstream of the road to divert stormwater around the project site. Paydirt also installed temporary culverts under and downstream of the road, and began final stream grading upstream of the road.

c. Corman, the culvert subcontractor, mobilized to the site. d. Work began on Phase 2 construction at the dam site (Phase 1 is the utility and culvert

installation at West Benfield Road). Crews installed the construction entrance off of Oak Stump Drive and the haul road downhill to the dam. Several rock floodplain grade control structures were installed. Paydirt cannot proceed with dam removal until the new box culvert under West Benfield Road is installed. Consequently, work will not continue at the dam site until spring 2020. The parking restrictions for Contractor access along Oak Stump Drive are lifted. Residents should not block the construction entrance. Paydirt needs access to the site throughout the fall and winter to maintain the haul road and erosion and sediment control features.

4. Upcoming Work. Anticipated dates for major work are as follows: September 20 Corman brings their crane to West Benfield Rd September 23 Anticipated start date for pile driving October 7 Anticipated end date for pile driving October 8 Begin installation of box culvert footings End Oct – Dec Install box culvert & wingwalls

Anne Arundel County September 17, 2019 DPW/WPRP

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5. Pile Driving. Corman anticipates that pile driving for the culvert will take 2 weeks to complete. Pile driving will occur Monday – Friday from 8am – 5:30pm. No pile driving will occur on Saturdays or Sundays. Vibration monitoring will be conducted during pile driving operations.

PLEASE NOTE – There will be a 15-foot deep excavation for the culvert installation, which will span the entire width of West Benfield Road. Pedestrians and bicyclists must not enter the site.

6. Road Closure. West Benfield Road will remain closed until the new culvert is installed, utility lines are reinstalled over the new culvert, and the road embankment and pavement is reconstructed. It is anticipated that the road will reopen in spring 2020.

A precise road opening date cannot be given at this time, with the amount of work remaining for culvert installation and weather uncertainties. The County will continue to work with Paydirt and their subcontractors to expedite construction and open the road ASAP.

7. North Fork Bear Branch Stream Restoration. The County’s Engineering Consultant, Brown and Caldwell, is designing the restoration of 3600 linear feet of stream and the retrofit/decommissioning of BMP 4449. The project area extends from Benfield Boulevard upstream to Red Birch Road. Brown and Caldwell completed the 30% design in March 2019. Once the design is completed, construction should begin in 2022. The construction start was pushed back one year after schedule refinement with Brown and Caldwell. A community meeting will be scheduled in the future to discuss the project design and solicit comments from the community.

If you have questions or comments regarding the Shipley’s Dam Project or this Monthly Update, please contact the undersigned.

Larry R. Mathena, Jr. PMP Project Manager Anne Arundel County, Dept. of Public Works Watershed Protection & Restoration Program Ph: 410-222-7908 Email: pwmath00@aacounty.org

Anne Arundel County September 17, 2019 DPW/WPRP

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SHIPLEY’S DAM PROJECT – CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS

Photo 1 – Sanitary sewer installation downstream of W Benfield Rd Photo 2 – Excavation for the culvert wingwall upstream of the road

Photo 3 – Oak Stump Drive construction entrance Photo 4 – Haul road to dam site with large boulders

Anne Arundel County September 17, 2019 DPW/WPRP

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Photo 5 – Large boulders buried and covered with Photo 6 – View of haul road looking uphill toward construction entrance black geotextile for the floodplain grade control