Project Spotlight: Thunder Mountain Drainage Improvements

By: Contech Engineered Solutions

In the spring of 2020, the City of Sedona contractor Tiffany Construction Company began the Thunder Mountain Drainage Improvements Project. The project included the installation of a new storm drain system that would improve the drainage along sections of Thunder Mountain Road located between Rhapsody Road and Andante Drive.

The goal of the improvement project was to eliminate the existing open ditch along the south side of Thunder Mountain Road and improve drainage performance in the area. It would also provide the additional space needed for the second phase of the project – the installation of a shared use path. The City designed the shared use path to extend past the newly installed storm drain system and connect to Coffee Pot Drive – to improve the safety for both pedestrians and bicyclists.

The project engineer, Shephard Wesnitzer, designed a storm drain system that incorporated a spiral rib storm sewer system with custom fabricated fittings to meet the project needs. The 1,804 LF storm sewer system, diameters ranging from 36-inch to 60-inch, was manufactured at the local El Mirage Contech manufacturing plant, providing a quick turnaround time frame, allowing the project to be completed as scheduled.

In the end, Contech reduced the cost of the system to meet the budgetary requirements, provided a reliable system with ease of installation, and supported the contractors throughout the entire installation process.

The Associate Engineer of the City of Sedona, David Peck, stated, “Even during the coronavirus pandemic, Contech was able to quickly fabricate the CMP, fittings, and structures needed for this project without causing any delay for the contractor. They also helped with value engineering by fabricating a custom and complex junction structure (that fit like a glove) in lieu of a cast-in-place concrete structure. Contech’s communication with our contractor, Tiffany Construction Company, has been exceptional from design and estimating through production and delivery.”