Alexandria Waterfront Commission to discuss $145M flooding project in Tuesday meeting

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (7News) — With rain forecasted for later this week, businesses in Old Town Alexandria are once again preparing for potential flooding. However, a $145 million project is underway in hopes of fixing the persistent issue.

On Tuesday morning at Alexandria City Hall, the Waterfront Commission will be meeting at 7:30 a.m. to provide an update on the project.

You don’t have to look back far to see 7News’ coverage on flooding in Old Town Alexandria. Like clockwork, people start preparing with sandbags. In the next few hours, streets are flooded, closed, and crews show up after the rain to clean up debris and pump water off the streets.

RELATED | Proposed design to fix flooding in Old Town Alexandria is under city review

Infrastructure from this area goes back to the 18th century. According to the city, the area deals with a number of incidents every year.

Annually, there are more than 60 incidents of backflow of river outflows. Also, more than 30 times a year, there’s over-topping of the bulkhead. Finally, there are more than 10 times every year when the storm sewers are inundated.

Right now, the city is still in the design phase, but up next will be construction — though some business owners are concerned that construction will impact them.

There will be several meetings in place to hear from the public.