Storm-water solution near Woodridge to cost $400,000

Fixing a flood zone in the Indian Trail Neighborhood is going to cost the city of Spokane more than $400,000.

On Monday, the Spokane City Council approved a low bid by Red Diamond Construction Inc., Spokane, to install improved runoff ponds and drywells to contain infrequent flooding near Woodridge Elementary School.

Red Diamond submitted a bid of $403,000, which was nearly 17 percent below the estimate by city engineers.

The work is the first phase of a plan by the city’s wastewater department to control flooding that occurs mainly when the ground is frozen and warm weather brings a quick runoff down a gully off Five Mile Prairie, said Ken Brown, principal design engineer for the city.

Brown said the problem was not anticipated when the neighborhood was developed.

In recent years, the excess runoff has overwhelmed existing ponds installed by a developer. The water spills onto Sylvia Court and then down Shawnee Drive adjacent to Woodridge school. The water carries sediment with it.

Brown said the new ponds and drywells will also include a new drainage system to carry any excess runoff past the school. Plans call for adding another detention pond to the west in a second phase of work.

“ In other business, the council approved a $1.2 million contract with Red Diamond Construction to install 8,434 feet of 30-inch-diameter ductile iron water pipe along Government Way from Sunset Boulevard to south of Fort George Wright Drive. The project is part of a water service improvement for west Spokane.

Work is expected to begin in September, Brown said. Traffic will be slowed during construction. However, plans call for keeping open one lane in each direction.