Persistent flooding in Wilmington’s Pirate Cove neighborhood and along Masonboro Sound Road during storm events could become a thing of the past.
That is the plan anyway with the Pirate Cove Drainage Improvement Project.
The project’s purpose is to reduce flooding of streets and private property in the area and to provide long-term maintenance. To do so will involve replacing part of the existing storm drainage system within a portion of the Pirate Cove subdivision and improving an open channel that drains into the system to reduce flooding.
Robbie Baker, project manager in the Wilmington Design and Construction Department, said the aim is to improve undersized and failing infrastructure, stabilize heavily eroded and incised channels, create access
for future maintenance and reduce flooding during heavy rain events.
Extending from Greenville Loop Road and along portions of West Blackbeard and Buccaneer roads, the corridor length of the project is about 0.5 miles, according to Baker.
In the fall of 2024, the city completed the necessary easement acquisitions needed for construction and long-term maintenance work in the area.
Construction is anticipated to start in early 2027 and take eight months to complete.
The Wilmington City Council unanimously passed pieces of legislation related to the project Oct. 6. Among them was the authorization of an agreement with the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority to reimburse the city up to $257,582 for the relocation of water and sewer line facilities affected by the project. The city also awarded a $1,096,362 construction contract to East Coast Contracting, Inc. of Wilmington.
Bob Liepa is the city of Wilmington and public safety reporter for the StarNews. You can reach him at RLiepa@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Project expected to lessen flooding in Wilmington neighborhood
