Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements

Weston & Sampson and JMT are partnering to assist the City of Folly Beach with upgrades of key drainage assets to include channels, culverts, piping, and inlets to address both capacity and conveyance

The City of Folly Beach is located on a 12 square mile barrier island and is frequently experiences nuisance flooding from tidal and storm events. Due to increasing sea levels, spring tides, and the intensity and frequency of storm events, even relatively minor summer “rain bombs” cause widespread flooding impacting roadway passability, businesses, and properties. The City of Folly Beach conducted an “Island Drainage Study and Stormwater System Assessment” in 2020 to identify areas experiencing flooding as a result of the 10-year storm and preliminarily evaluate hydraulic solutions to mitigate nuisance flooding. The proposed solutions predominately focused on improved hydraulics and capacity and provided initial direction for future project identification. Our team is designing, permitting, and constructing stormwater improvements along Center Street (to include W. Arctic Ave, E. Arctic Ave, E. Ashley Ave, E. Erie Ave, E. Cooper Ave, and E. Huron Ave.) and along E. Erie Avenue and 8th Street E. The project includes an existing conditions assessment, utility coordination, hydraulic design, preliminary design, GIS data management and extensive community engagement.

As part of the design, green infrastructure will be included on Center Street to provide water quality and water quantity benefits. More than 30 parallel parking spots will become permeable using inner-locking pavers, as well as 6 street-level bioretention cells. Construction will begin in Spring 2025.