Petersburg crews to begin tunnel project in response to ongoing flooding, damage

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- As ongoing water issues have caused significant damage to infrastructure around Petersburg, the Old Towne neighborhood has especially been hard hit, pushing the city to make some changes on W. Bank Street starting Saturday.

Crews will be designing a new Brickhouse Run tunnel, which means W. Bank Street between Sycamore and Market Streets will be closed for an unspecified amount of time starting at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6.

This news comes as flood waters up to a foot deep ran down W. Bank Street in July, focusing a lot of attention on the lack of dredging of the Appomattox River. Petersburg describes the flooding as causing "significant" damage at the Brickhouse Run Tunnel situated over the Brickhouse Run Stream.

A state of emergency was issued for the city in July following the flooding, which remains in place as of Monday, Sept. 1.

Deborah Patton who has lived on W. Bank Street for more than a year has had a front row seat to the flooding and the erosion happening at the stream.

"It was completely flooded. It looked like you could swim in it," Patton said.

Now Petersburg is working to build "a new, more resilient tunnel and roadway," using $7 million from state assistance. Patton is hopeful the new tunnel will be able to more effectively channel water away from the city properly.

While it may take several months to finish, Patton said it will be worth the wait.

"Absolutely," Patton said. "That is a scary thing to be seeing that much water coming up and sitting here in a matter of two and [a] half hours."

Patton claimed that a city official stopped by the neighborhood on Friday to advise, saying that the project may take as long as 18 months.