Canal Drive floods rain or shine; town works to fix issue

First phase starts in winter

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WWAY) –  As the rains and winds from Ian hit Carolina Beach Canal Drive looked more like a river than a road. However, even on a sunny day, sea water on the road is a common occurrence; Canal Drive is notorious for flooding.

According to Carolina Beach Council Member Joe Benson, the town is working to make improvements.

“We have a pretty good idea what it is, aged infrastructure,” he said.

Bob Ponzoni owns a home on North Canal Drive, he said things need to change.

“We can’t stop everything, we’re not looking for 100 percent, we are looking for like 62 and half percent,” he said.

Ponzoni is not only concerned about flooding causing an impassable road and damage to homes but also damage to the environment.

“As the water comes out back into the harbor, it takes with it, the bug spray under the house, the oils from the lawn mower,” he said. “We have a beautiful, pristine harbor, Myrtle Sound is beautiful, we have some very interesting wildlife, people eat the fish out of that water, we owe it to myrtle grove sound to keep that water healthy.”

According to Benson, work will start by digging two end streets.

“We’ll start on two street ends along Canal and that’s Scotch Bonnet and Starfish, to dig up those street ends, those intersections with Canal and find out what’s underground. ”

What’s underground? The infrastructure was put in place about 60 years ago.

“That in it of itself should tell a lot of folks who live on Canal Drive what they already know, the infrastructure needs an overhaul,” he said.

American Rescue Plan Funds received a year ago are earmarked to improve canal drive.

“Those are already obligated to do not only stormwater fixes to the tune of five storm drains, hundreds of feet of pipes underground, but also repaving,” he said.

According to Benson, it will cost about $250,000 to complete that project at no cost to taxpayers,

and another $250,000 to dig up Scotch Bonnet and Starfish lanes; those funds will come from the town operating budget.

According to Benson, using those funds to fix the road will be a return on taxpayers’ investments.

“We owe a safe conveyance; a reliable road to residents and business owners in the North end,” he said.

While the fix won’t happen overnight, Benson said improvements are on the horizon, adding the first phase of the project is set to begin this winter.