Irene a big test for new Nahant Causeway

NAHANT – Officials expressed confidence that improvements to the Nahant Causeway – including a new southbound roadway that opened just last week – will pass its first test as Hurricane Irene is forecast to bring heavy rains and winds to the area this weekend.”I’m not excited about the storm, but I’m cautiously looking forward to how our revetment (the rock you see sloping up to the road) works,” said James Caputo, Department of Conservation and Recreation resident engineer for the causeway project. “I’m confident that our roadway we just opened will drain. It’s a nice test.”The $20 million project officially got under way June 10, 2010, and will reconstruct the 1.5-mile long causeway connecting Nahant and Lynn. Crucial to this project was the “revetment” or construction of a sloping rock barrier that is engineered to absorb wave energy by essentially breaking waves when they hit the barrier. Although finishing touches including a top coat of paving remain for the new lane, construction and town officials said that the lane’s re-engineered drainage system should also alleviate flooding that frequently occurred on the road during storm events similar to those predicted this weekend.The new drainage system combines new reinforced pipes to replace those that have been crushed and patched over the years and redesigned drains. By releasing water from multiple sides rather than from a single opening at the end of a pipe, the drains are more resistant to clogging and prevent water from surging back up to the road surface.So far the system has worked.Pihl Inc. Project Manager Dante Roberto noted that the southbound lane drained well during two storms that dropped more than four inches of rain during the last week.In anticipation of the hurricane, workers are essentially using the new drainage system infrastructure to help drain the other lanes of the roadway.”We know our work (on the southbound lane) works, but the old system is overtaxed,” explained Roberto.As a result, Caputo said that they constructed a temporary drainage line that connects the old, inadequate existing drainage infrastructure of the outbound roadway with the new, to alleviate some of the major water puddling in the temporary outbound roadway – focusing on particular locations such as the Bath House that have been flooded with puddles in the past.”The more water coming out to our new roadway is good for us,” said Caputo.Workers also punched holes at the bottom of the median barrier between the existing and new roadway – kind of like “scuppers on a boat,” as Roberto said – to help drain puddles on the old section of the road and the current northbound lane.”The other three lanes have to pitch into these lanes – it’s not complete yet,” said Selectman Richard Lombard. “If we have a couple of puddles out there, don’t be excited.”Crews are also securing any potential objects that could be blown about by winds, Roberto said.The boat ramp at the start of the causeway will also be open all day today and Monday to boaters.And Caputo said that workers’ contact information is at Town Hall should any problems arise during the storm.