Stone
Ridge is only one of many developments springing up in Virginia
just west of DC. Fairfax, Reston, Chantilly, and points west
have been feeling the pressure of DC sprawl for some time
now. Communities that have been settled and rural since colonial
times such as Aldie, Middleburg and others along the Route
50 corridor are recently starting to feel the pressures that
come with being in the path of development.
Developers
have worked with these communities and with the state to develop
communities that reflect the look and feel of their colonial
predecessors. Aldie’s Stone Ridge features homes with
a southern colonial feel, making liberal use of brick, stone,
columns, and wide grassy boulevards. Developers sought to
keep the construction phases brief and the disruptions minimal.
In
the early spring of ’06 Stone Ridge neared the end of
its construction phase. Developers were eager to finish the
last phases of construction and sales so that they could hand
maintenance responsibilities over to the Home Owners Associations.
They were unsettled by a curve ball thrown their way by the
Virginia Department of Transportation. D.O.T. informed formed
them that all of the boulevards needed to include subsurface
drainage systems such as French drains. The DOT was concerned
that irrigation and rainfall on the landscaped islands might
intrude under the adjacent streets.
With
neatly landscaped boulevards in place, developers were reluctant
to disrupt them and destroy the finished look. KT Enterprises,
the contracted landscaper for the project, suggested a Multi-Flow
drainage system as the solution. KT had worked with Multi-Flow
previously on athletic field installations and had experienced
the simplicity of installation as well as the total effectiveness
of the system. The narrow Multi-Flow profile would cause minimal
surface disruption but its tall face would provide generous
drainage capacity. The Virginia DOT approved of the Multi-Flow
solution since they had previous experience with Multi-Flow
as a highway drainage product.
KT
was given the green light for this solution in early April
and asked to have the project completed by Memorial Day. Aside
from a few conflicts with the irrigation system and several
rain delays, the project proceeded smoothly. 18-inch Multi-Flow
was selected for the project primarily because of the large
intercept area it provides. A 24-inch trench was evacuated
and after installing the Multi-Flow, the trench was backfilled
with clean coarse sand. A single tractor-mounted Ditch Witch
trencher and three workers were able to install up to 1200
feet of 18-inch Multi-Flow per day. Over 10,000 feet of subsurface
drainage was in place and grass had begun to grow back over
the scarcely noticeable trenches well before Memorial Day.
Potential residents and curious sightseers were largely unaware
of the remedial drainage project.
Multi-Flow
was a solution that satisfied all parties:
•
The developers were relieved because it was a fast, affordable
solution to their problem.
•
KT was pleased because the project ran smoothly and it afforded
them a chance to provide a much needed service for a valuable
customer.
•
The DOT was satisfied because they had the necessary drainage
required to protect the substantial investment made in the
streets.
