Overview

The City of Martinsville and the Morgan County Drainage Board contracted to complete drainage studies of the Lewis Sator ditch and the Hilldale Cemetery ditch, which determined that the infrastructure of both watersheds is at capacity and cannot support further development. Preliminary engineering analysis has identified that a combination of a two-stage ditch, or regional detention, will be required to increase capacity. The project involves the creation of a two-stage ditch downstream of Artesian Avenue extending approximately 3,000 feet to just upstream of Mahalasville Road. The project also includes the installation of new water distribution and sanitary sewer conveyance to serve the 80-acre area. the bid for the original Artisan Avenue ditch project in Morgan County came in well below the engineering estimates. The low bidder was qualified and responsive and the work is mostly complete. This leaves considerable budget in the approved READI investment. The county and city, in partnership, are requesting to expand the scope of the project within the original READI investment to include three additional projects: the Sartor Ditch culvert, Artesian Acres, and Hillsdale Cemetery Ditch. The projects are described more fully in the attachments. These ditches functionally drain the developed and developing areas of Morgan County in and near Martinsville. Investment in them allows for the new development that was part of the original project.