On Tuesday, June 11, Governor Henry McMaster, Mayor William Cogswell and Charleston’s Department of Stormwater Management celebrated the completion of the Medical District Tunnel Extension Project at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Medical District faces increasing threats from flooding and significant storms every year. In 2019, the district experienced a record high of 89 flood events, which impacted access to essential medical care and emergency vehicles.
David J. Cole, president of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), described the challenge of navigating the campus during significant flooding events, stating, “You know I’m not short, hip-high water to be able to get to the patients in the ORs. That’s just not a good way to live life.”
Three major medical centers are located in The Medical District, including MUSC, the VA, and Roper Hospital. Together, these medical institutions employ 25,000 people and treat 75,000 veterans, and 400,000 patients annually.
About 130 feet below Ehrhardt Street, a tunnel extension from the existing US-17/ Spring-Fishburne Project was constructed. A drop shaft drains the street-level stormwater collection system into the deep tunnels via a vortex box that swirls the water into a vortex, preventing air from entering the system and allowing water to flow much faster.
The City of Charleston received over $10 million in federal funding for the project from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with a matching $5 million commitment from the city.
This project will provide security and safety to employees, patients, students, residents, and visitors of the Medical District.
To learn more, visit the project site at: https://www.charleston-sc.gov/2564/ Medical-District-Drainage-Tunnel-Extensi
