ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Abington Township officials and partners held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 22 to celebrate the completion of an environmental infrastructure project.
The project was completed in September and involved stabilizing, naturalizing, and improving ecosystem function along Sandy Run Creek at Roychester Park and Grove Park in Abington Township.
Work was designed to restore aquatic, wetland, and riparian habitat; improve infiltration of flood waters; stabilize stream banks and reduce erosion; control invasive species; and reconnect floodplains. In Roychester Park, work included replacing two culverts and installing a new sanitary line.
Lt. Colonel Ryan A. Baum thanked Abington Township for their partnership during remarks at the event. “Our combined team worked through multiple challenges over several years to bring this project to completion,” he said. “Thank you to all involved with this effort, as well as the community and neighbors for your patience during the construction process.”
For Abington Township, the project provided environmental, operational and financial benefits.
“This project is a culmination of nearly a decade of investment of time, effort, and resources that have gone towards stabilization of the Sandy Run watershed. We are grateful for the partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the work that our Abington Township employees have done to support this project,” said Christopher Christman, Abington Township Manager.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been excellent partners throughout design, engineering and construction. Their community-minded approach ensured Township feedback was incorporated into the project, and the final outcome demonstrates our collective commitment to a project that meets our environmental, operational, and financial goals,” said Ashley McIlvaine, Abington Township Assistant Township Manager.
Luciano's Excavation Inc. of Taunton, Massachusetts served as contractor for the $2.4 million project. Construction was cost shared between the federal government (75%) and the Township (25%).
About the Project
USACE managed the overall project under the ‘Section 566 program.’ This program allows the Army Corps to provide design and construction assistance to non-Federal interests for carrying out water related environmental infrastructure, resource protection and development projects in southeastern Pennsylvania, including projects for wastewater treatment and related facilities (including sewer overflow infrastructure improvements and other stormwater management), water supply and related facilities, surface water resource protection and development, and environmental restoration.