Sundt crews are helping to reduce flooding, improve traffic flow, and keep a fast-growing corridor moving where three municipalities, two utilities, a Church, businesses, residents, and storm runoff from the Hedgpeth Hills converge.
Along 67th Avenue in Peoria, Arizona, Sundt crews are building a new storm drain system where none existed before. During heavy storms, runoff would flood 67th Avenue, impact surrounding properties, and cause unsafe driving conditions. The flooding causes delays and has prevented the development of additional housing in an area with multimillion-dollar homes. The new storm drain system is designed to safely capture and convey that water to the New River Wash at the end of Hatfield Road.
“Our project runs in three city jurisdictions. In the south part of our job, as soon as you cross the curb, you’re in Peoria, and Glendale is on the other side. And then up one street, it turns into Phoenix. We deal with three jurisdictions, three different city entities, inspectors, and all the fun that goes with that,” said Sr. Project Manager Janene Steele.
In addition to the cities and utilities, the project team coordinated with residents and businesses to complete work with minimal disruptions. This included working with CCV Church to schedule around services that start Friday evening and run through the weekend. The church owns Hatfield Road, where a section of 85-inch drainpipes divert water towards the New River Wash. During the preconstruction phase, the team planned with the church and other affected businesses for almost two years before construction started.
A Cascade of Pipes
The typical drainpipe ranges from 60 inches and smaller. The 67th Avenue Corridor Improvements required more and larger pipe despite all the work happening within one mile. The large-diameter storm drainpipe, as wide as 90 inches in some areas, was installed as deep as 20 feet below ground. To cross 67th Avenue, existing utilities made it impossible to install the large 90-inch pipes, so the team installed six 54-inch pipes to handle the amount of potential water during a 100-year storm. After the crossing, the pipes grow to 84 inches and 90 inches. In other areas of the project 60-, 54-, and 36- to 18-inch pipe was used.
The team was able to save time and cost on the project by value engineering aspects of the plan that called for a box culvert to use reinforced concrete pipe (RCP). The box culvert works like a bridge to allow water to flow under the road, but it requires more time to cast the culvert in place. Pipe can be manufactured off-site and placed using an excavator with a large hairpin pipe hook. This specialized lifting device allows an excavator to safely lift and set the large pipes without requiring workers to climb or manually rig each section.
A Sundt employee-owner standing next to a 54-inch pipe and the hairpin pipe hook.
5 Star Service
The team built strong relationships with homeowners, businesses, utility partners and nearby stakeholders, helping drive the project’s success.
In the case of a major storm, additional water is diverted to a basin on Pinnacle Peak Road. To install the 60-inch pipe, the team needed to dig up multiple homes’ driveways. After install, the team rebuilt all the driveways and landscaping.
A homeowner takes the opportunity to add their dogs footprints to their rebuilt driveway while the concrete cured.
“Our team set up meetings with every homeowner we were going to do work in front of. Project Superintendent Eric Greene and I walked them through what was going to happen, and one of them even wrote a Google review of us to show how appreciative he was,” said Steele.
A satisfied homeowner appreciates the work of Sundt employee-owners and writes a Google review.
It is more than coordination with residents near the jobsite. Our craft professionals form relationships with the people whose houses we work in front of daily. One neighbor, Mr. Tanner, visits with the crew daily to chat. The team keeps him updated on progress and helps take his trash can to the road on pickup days.
The team learned of a “Big Truck Night” at one of the schools near the project, Heritage Academy. To make the event extra special for students, the project team provided Sundt equipment including water trucks, loaders, and blades for the children to explore, sit in the seat, and take photos.
Students and families at Heritage Academy in Glendale, AZ explore construction equipment at Big Truck Night.
When the project finishes in spring 2027, most people will never see all work under the road. But when the next storm hits, it will help keep Peoria drivers safer, drier, and moving forward.
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