Local news- Press Release
Greenlight Community Broadband North Carolina - City projects highlighted during Engineers Week 28 February 2024 ( news )
Greenlight Community Broadband , state North Carolina ( By Press Release office)
Feb 28,2024
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We recently commemorated Engineers Week with features on current projects led by our engineering team . Nationally , Engineers Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of the men and women who solve all kinds of real - world problems with science and design . Here in Wilson the city’s engineering team is responsible for the planning , construction and maintenance of Wilson ' s infrastructure , including water , sewer , stormwater , electric , natural gas and broadband .
The theme of #EWeek2024 is “Welcome to the Future” – and if you’ve been out in Wilson lately , you’ve seen there are many projects that are underway to shape our future . None of these projects could be accomplished without the hard work of our city engineers .
Engineers Week Feature: Wilson Mall Stormwater Retrofit
Once the Wilson Mall site is redeveloped , a portion of the site will include a water quality park at the north end of the property near Parkwood Drive . While most people will see a beautiful city park , the bigger benefit of the park will be the water quality features that will improve flooding concerns in the area . The project would construct a regional flood mitigation project which would help with local flooding during storms and also provide water quality treatment . Water quality is improved when the flow of the water is slowed after a storm . Fast - moving water takes sediment with it , which can make future flooding even worse . Putting in features that slow down the water , such as adding turns to the water flow or including certain plants that can filter the water and other nature - based practices , all help improve the quality of the water when it moves into the ponds and rivers – in this case , it’s Hominy Swamp .
The city has applied for a federal grant to fund the demolition of the mall and the construction of the water quality park . We think we will have good news to share later this year . For now , we are conducting the required environmental assessment needed before a formal decision is made on the grant . That work will continue through the Fall , which is why you may not see progress at the mall site right now – but work is happening in the background!
Please note the water quality park is for a portion of the site , not the entire site . More information about plans for the redevelopment of the part of the site where the current mall building stands should be available later this year .
The city’s Engineering and Stormwater Division of the Public Works Department is managing this project , led by Assistant Public Works Director Noah Parsons .
Engineers Week Feature: Finches Mill Pond Bridge Natural Gas Line Relocation
Wilson Energy requires several engineers to plan and maintain both the electric and natural gas systems . Working on these systems can be dangerous and also are critical infrastructure that we depend on for daily life . Engineers plan for system growth and reliability decades into the future – while ensuring we have the electricity and gas we need when we need it .
Recently , Natural Gas Engineer Cody Stallings led an effort to relocate a natural gas pipe from the Finch’s Mill Pond bridge near I - 95 to the other side of the road . Gas pipelines that are attached to bridges are exposed and vulnerable to damage . Sounds simple enough , right? Well , there’s actually a lot of planning necessary before relocated a gas line . Cody had to calculate the right time to perform the work , which involved complex calculations about system gas pressure . He also had to factor in the best time to perform the work that would not cause any interruption of service to customers . When the project was complete , there were no noticeable disruptions or effects on the system , except now the line has been removed from the bridge , increasing safety and reliability .
Engineers Week Feature: Sewer Outfall Project Near Bloomery Swamp
This week we have been sharing examples of how the city’s engineering team is preparing us for the future , often in ways most of us don’t even consider . You may have seen the equipment and activity along NC - 42 over the past year . All of that activity is replacing sewer lines in the area of Bloomery Swamp . The Lower Bloomery Swamp Sewer Improvement project consists of the construction of a new 24 - inch sewer outfall to replace an existing 18 - inch sewer outfall . The existing 18 - inch sewer outfall is failing due to age and needs to be replaced to continue to serve existing residents and prepare for the growth to come .
The replacement of the existing sewer main will result in decreased inflow and infiltration , and lower the probability of sanitary sewer overflows . Additionally , the service capacity of the sewer main will increase allowing the continued growth within the service area .
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