In 2006, Chatham County began efforts to improve Pipemakers Canal; a historic canal which was gradually built between the 19th and 20th centuries. The canal is located north of Downtown Savannah, originating from the Savannah River. The canal, originally derived from Pipemakers Creek, was built to provide drainage for rice cultivation and was later expanded to provide better drainage as urbanization spread throughout Chatham County.
Chatham County obtained EMC Engineering to aid in the improvements of the 13-mile long canal. The project goal was to make the canal more accessible for maintenance, and increase its capacity to provide flood protection for a 50-year, 24-hour (9 inch) storm event. EMC worked with the county, the State of Georgia and the Army Corps of Engineers to produce Civil Site Plans for the project. Plans included Plan and Profile, Cross Sections, Storm Drainage and Erosion Control measures. Due to the complexity of the project, phasing was needed.
Phase I constituted improvements from the Savannah River to a point 2,400 feet east of Highway 21. The canal was widened from an average bottom width of 30 feet to a new bottom width of 55 to 60 feet with 15-foot-wide gravel access roads on each side of the canal. Phase I began construction in 2007 and was completed in 2008.
Phase II constituted improvements from a point 2,400 feet east of Highway 21 to Highway 307 (Dean Forest Road). The canal was widened from an average bottom width of 25 feet to a new bottom width of 35 to 55 feet with 15-foot-wide gravel access roads on each side of the canal. Phase II began construction in 2010 and was completed in 2012.
Phase III constituted widening the canal from an average bottom width of 25-feet to a new bottom width of 35 to 55 feet with 15-foot-wide gravel access roads on each side of the canal. This phase constitutes improvements from Highway 307 (Dean Forest Road) to the end of the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport runway.
During construction of all phases, EMC performed construction phase services for Chatham County which included: weekly site visits by an EMC Engineer, part time project representation by an EMC Inspector, daily reporting, review of shop drawings, review of pay requests, construction surveys to calculate earthwork quantities by EMC Surveyors, and the preparation of record drawings.
EMC is proud to be able to take part of the renovation of Pipemakers Canal, a physical representation of the history and development of Chatham County.