New sidewalks along the frontage of Kalmiopsis School in Brookings are nearing completion. Sidewalks are also being installed along the Easy Street frontage of the Brookings Harbor High School.
The project includes the installation of relatively unique “water quality filter strips” designed to 1) treat the water, 2) allow for infiltration into the ground, and 3) reduce and slow downstream storm water flows. The strips are comprised of several layers of drainage rock, followed by blended compost soil and perforated drainage/filter fabric pipe.
The $548,680 construction project, funded primarily through a federal “Safe Routes to School” grant, administered by ODOT, is slated for completion before the fall school session begins.
A requirement for federally funded street improvement projects, the strips being install on this project will produce less downstream runoff than before the project was constructed, and reduce heavy metals and other contaminants before the storm water is finally discharged into the nearby creek.
Reducing upstream storm runoff, as opposed to upsizing downstream storm pipes, also saves money. The City will continue to look for opportunities to implement similar cost saving drainage and water quality improvements in the future.