The Chimborazo Drop Shaft and Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Phase I project includes the replacement of the portion of sewer that runs from the top of Chimborazo Hill to the bottom of the hillside in the abandoned railroad bed. This project is a permanent replacement for the emergency repaired portion of the brick step sewer that was damaged during the 2004 slope failure caused by Tropical Storm Gaston and has been designed in such a way to avoid potentially unstable soils. The slope between E. Grace Street and the abandoned railroad bed has failed multiple times since the construction of the rail spur. Most recently, the slope failed during the heavy rainfall event of Tropical Storm Gaston in 2004 and again in 2017. As a result of that storm, much of the hill surrounding Chimborazo Park in the Church Hill area became unstable. The large amount of precipitation received during the storm increased the hydrostatic ground water pressure which eventually triggered slope failure. Emergency sewer repair work was done in 2005 and again in 2017 as temporary solutions to put the Chimborazo interceptor sewer back in service after the collapse and damage caused by the storms.

Chimborazo Drop Shaft Newsletter Volume - 5