MOUNT CARMEL - A groundbreaking ceremony for the $14 million Shamokin Creek Flood Control Project will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the 300 block of East Water Street.
Remarks will be given by state Sen. John R. Gordner (R-27), state Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107), former state Rep. Robert E. Belfanti Jr. (D-107), representatives of the state departments of Community and Economic Development and General Services and local officials.
The project marks a 30-year effort to alleviate flooding of approximately 100 homes in Mount Carmel along Water Street and surrounding streets when Shamokin Creek experiences high water events.
Once the groundbreaking takes place, a pre-job conference with the main contractor, Don E. Bower Inc., Berwick, will be scheduled, and construction should begin before the end of April and could potentially last three years.
Shamokin Creek is fed by two smaller streams that connect underneath North Pine Street near Francis Latovich Machine Shop. The water flows underground for three blocks until North Locust and East Water streets, which is where construction of new walls and fences will begin. Work will follow the creek for a mile to the township/borough line.
New bridges will replace existing ones at North Walnut and North Chestnut streets, but existing bridges crossing North Hickory and North Vine streets will remain.
At the end of the borough's construction, located on Reading Anthracite property behind the Mount Carmel Area Silver Bowl and Stadium Car Wash at West Third Street, an open pool and levy system will be constructed with pillars to break the flow of the water.