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How to Survive the Weather of the Future?. Sonal Sanghavi, P.E. Director Office of Environmental Design MDOT – State Highway Administration. NASTO Conference 06.12.12. PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES. Our 2011 Severe Storms Experience What did we Learn? Where do we need to Go?
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How to Survive the Weather of the Future? Sonal Sanghavi, P.E. Director Office of Environmental Design MDOT – State Highway Administration NASTO Conference 06.12.12
PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES • Our 2011 Severe Storms Experience • What did we Learn? • Where do we need to Go? • Near-term Perspective • Long-term Perspective
Severe Weather Changes & Impacts Transportation Systems & Engineering must Adapt Assets for:
2011 Hurricane Irene & Tropical Storm Lee Allen’s Fresh Bridge MD 234, Charles County Maryland
2011 Hurricane Irene & Tropical Storm Lee MD 125 Baltimore County Maryland
2011 Hurricane Irene & Tropical Storm Lee I 83 Near Northern Parkway, Baltimore County Maryland
Unnamed Storm in March 2011 US 40 over Patuxent River, Construction Project Howard County, Maryland
What Did We Find? • Flooding - most impact on infrastructure due to severe weather • All areas in Maryland face flood risks: • Flash floods in the stream valleys of Western Maryland • Urban and flash flooding in Central Maryland • Tidal flooding along the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland’s Coastal Bay and Atlantic coast, large river basin flooding along the Potomac and Susquehanna rivers. • Strategy to managing flooding – • Target Drainage Assets to ensure safe conveyance of water
Drainage Asset Management Goal: Safe conveyance of stormwater to protect transportation infrastructure, community and the environment • Drainage Features – pipes, culverts, ditches, inlets, outfalls • Asset Management – • Inventory Inspections • Drainage Investigations & Assessments • Drainage Structures Repairs & Remediation • Outfall Channel Stabilization
Roadway Embankment Protection Unstable Channels US 40 in Allegany County, Maryland
Roadway Embankment Protection Unstable Urban Streams MD 139 in Baltimore County, Maryland
Roadway Embankment ProtectionFailed Pipe and Outfall US 301 in Charles County, Maryland Failed 54” Pipe and Outfall
Safe Stormwater Conveyance US 220/I-68 in Allegany County
Challenge – Flooding - Culvert Replacement DA 245 Acre
Challenge– Utilities 1936 to now Gas Line Telephone Line
Correlation between Flooding locations and Drainage Conveyance
US 40 in Cecil CountyOutfall Locations with High Conveyance Ratings
What did we Do? Our Approach Develop Strategies and Action Plan Focus on Climate Change and Severe Weather Phased and Multi-pronged Plan Risk-based Approach Information Sharing Sessions Message - it is a local challenge and a global challenge Share severe weather and climate change information Share experiences and lessons learned across all business units Planning – Engineering - Environment – Construction - Maintenance –Operations Action Plan What are the most critical assets? What are the targeted actions – near-term and long-term ?
Highway System Vulnerability Infrastructure requiring further evaluation for impacts due to SLR • Prioritization of assets must consider emergency evacuation planning, resiliency and system redundancy • FEMA 100-Year Floodplain indicates 28% of SHA Structures (bridges to culverts) need further impact evaluation • State Maintained Roadways - 103 miles in 500-year floodplains I 413 miles in 100-year floodplains Maryland is among the states most vulnerable to climate change. The fourth longest tidal coastline (behind only Florida, California and Louisiana), Maryland is the third state most vulnerable to SLR
Near-Term Actionsfor Drainage Assets • Expand Drainage Asset Inventory • Expand Inspection and Maintenance Program • Continue Proactive Scour Program • Small Structures & Bridges • Inspections before & after storms (flood warnings) • Continue Drainage Investigation Program – 100 concerns/year • Dedicated Drainage Funds – need contingencies • Available Technical Expertise - over 45 Hydraulics Engineers • Proactive Contracting Measures – • On-Call Construction Contracts for small structures • On-Call Construction Contracts for drainage repairs/retrofits/emergency response • Larger capacity of New Stormwater Management Structures (extensive efforts under Bay Restoration-TMDL Program)
Surviving the Future WeatherKey Strategies Draw from prior experiences - Lessons Learned Consider Near-term and Long-term Perspectives Build Capacity to deal with Changing Conditions Prioritize the Most Vulnerable Assets Apply Risk-Management Methods and Tools Apply Ecosystem-based Approaches Use Best-Available Science
Sonal Sanghavi, PE, Director Office of Environmental Design MDOT - Maryland State Highway Administration 410-545-8540 ssanghavi@sha.state.md.us