News & President's Corner - Archive

News from the PIPOA - Public Statement of Dec 11 Meeting

Date:

December 11, 2023

Details:

Monday, December 11th, 2023, meeting at City Hall:
Attendees:

Jeff Edmonds, P.E., Director of Engineering Services, City of Corpus Christi
Jeff Coym, Vice President, LJA Engineering
Aaron Horine, P.E., Anchor QEA
Ryan Burke, P.E, Anchor QEA
Drew Diggins P.E., President of PIPOA
Herb Bradley, PIPOA Board Member

Corpus Christi Director of Engineering Services, Jeff Edmonds, stated that the Whitecap and Gypsy Bridges, including the associated bulkheads within the bridge easement, are city assets, and the city is responsible for their maintenance and protection. Anchor QEA (representing the PIPOA) and LJA Engineering (representing Diamond Beach Holding, LLC (aka Whitecap NPI)) discussed the flow studies produced by both groups. Both studies modeled the increased flow at local bridges that will occur upon the opening of the prospective canal connection. These studies concluded that scouring will occur at the Whitecap and Gypsy bridges due to the increased water flow. Given the risk, Anchor QEA, LJA Engineering and the Director of Engineering Services for the City agreed that these bridges need to be armored and scour protection installed before connecting the two canals. Mr. Edmonds stated that he would work to complete the armoring and scour protection “as expeditiously as possible”. The issue had not been included in prior flow studies. The parties discussed interim solutions that would allow the “water to flow” while the work is performed to mitigate the scouring.

The City, LJA and the PIPOA agreed to co-operate in developing a workable solution.