Restoration of the Rutherford/East Rutherford Drainage Ditch System – Rutherford/East Rutherford, New Jersey

On behalf of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC), The Louis Berger Group, Inc. (Berger) has been contracted to mitigate regional flooding problems for the “Rutherford Tide Gates/ Route 17. Flooding has occurred upstream of the Rutherford Tide Gates, including Route 17 near the NJ Transit Bergen County Line rail bridge. In fact, flooding occurs even during small storm events at Route 17, local roadways and local parking lots, causing impassable conditions in this commercial corridor. Conditions are unacceptable to the affected businesses and individuals and can be detrimental to public safety.

NJMC is facing intense political and public pressure to not only correct the flooding problems, but to do so in a cost-effective and timely manner. Of almost equal significance is the fact that this is the first flood control project put out for proposal by the NJMC, and its success will help to further advance the other high priority flood control projects.

The project goal is for the drainage ditch systems to pass at least the 10-year storm event with less than 0.5 feet of flooding on Route 17. Measures to allow for passing the 25-year storm event are also being analyzed. The project goal will be realized through the implementation of the following improvements:

• Restoration of the Rutherford Tide Gates
• Restoration of the Rutherford & East Rutherford Drainage Ditch System
• Route 17 Drainage System Upgrade

Restoration of the Rutherford and East Rutherford Drainage Ditch System/Rutherford Tide Gates: Berger has completed the initial project tasks for the in-depth characterization of the flooding problems at the site, including: developing topographic mapping; geotechnical and environmental sampling and analyses; a wetland delineation; cultural resource assessment; agency pre-application meetings; hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) data review; and project specific H&H modeling (HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS) and results analyses. Berger has also determined the most efficient tide gate design for the project conditions.

Due to the multiple hydrologic and hydraulic connections between the drainage ditches, their respective drainage areas, the Route 17 drainage system, and the Berry’s Creek/Berry’s Creek Canal system, the complexity of this project has necessitated the implementation of innovative designs, value engineering, and future project planning by the Berger team.

Berger is currently preparing the structural designs of the culverts and tide gates, as well as performing the supporting geotechnical analyses. Berger is also preparing the multiple agency permit submittals and preliminary design plans, specifications and design reports that will accompany the permit submissions. After regulatory approvals are obtained, final designs will be completed and construction bid documents will be prepared including plans, specifications and cost estimates. In addition, Berger will be providing construction management and inspection support services throughout the duration of construction.

Route 17 Drainage System Upgrade: Berger has completed the initial H&H review of the proposed drainage improvement plans for Route 17. The next steps include modifying NJDOT’s current models, running the revised models and checking for continuity with the ditch modeling results.

Where necessary, Berger will propose revisions to the existing and proposed storm drainage systems to pass the 25-year storm event. The NJDOT’s plans will then be revised to reflect these design upgrades. To ensure the successful integration of the upgraded design, Berger will coordinate with the NJDOT’s consultant when the revised drawings are submitted.