SR 309, Section NW1 - Old Packhouse Road

Hydrology and Hydraulics Report

North Whitehall Township

Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Prepared For:

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Engineering District 5-0

October, 2002
Revised March 18, 2003

Submitted By:

The Newton Engineering Group, P.C.

6235 Hamilton Boulevard, Suite 212
Allentown, PA 18106
610.366.0060
newtoneng@fast.net

G:\jobs\90006 B\Drainage\single culvert 2-04\3-03 H&H Report.doc

Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1
A. Site Data............................................................................................................... 2
1. Location Map: ....................................................................................................... 2
2. Existing Structures................................................................................................ 2
B. Hydrologic Analysis .............................................................................................. 3
C. Hydraulic Analysis ................................................................................................ 4
D. Risk Assessment .................................................................................................. 5
E. Summary Data Sheet............................................................................................... 7

Appendix

A..................................................................... Meeting Minutes & Review Comments

B............................................................................................. Location Map & Photos
C.................................................................................Occasional Flowage Easement
D................................................................................................ Runoff Computations
E.......................................................................................HY8 Output – Existing Pipe
F ................................................................................... Proposed Condition Analyses
G .............................................................Roadway, Plan, Profile and Cross Sections
H............................................................................................. Stream Cross Sections
Hydrology and Hydraulics Report © March, 2003

Introduction
This report is being prepared to address the proposed culvert crossing resulting from the
realignment of Old Packhouse Road. This report was prepared in October of 2002 and revised
based on the following:

• A meeting with representatives of the Wilkes Barre Regional DEP on February 21, 2003
• The January 24, 2003 Bridge Unit review letter and subsequent meeting of February 24,
2003.

The existing culvert crossing is a 33” riveted plate pipe (additional details are shown in Table
3). During recent field views it was noted that the outfall from this pipe falls a short distance
from the pipe into a small pool in the stream. Further, no debris was noted in the pipe and the
streambed was thick with vegetation, as shown in the photos in Appendix A.

There is an Act 167 watershed study prepared for the tributary area. The study includes future
land use projections as shown in Figure 4. The TR-55 runoff flows are conservatively larger
than those projected by Act 167. The flow to the culvert is currently restricted by a pond
located upstream of the culvert. However due to the age of the pond and lack of maintenance,
it was determined that it should not be considered in these hydraulic calculations.

Interviews with local officials indicate that the road in this area has overtopped. The existing
culvert has been modeled using the pipe size, slope and the roadway elevation for inundation
conditions. Due to the width of the floodplain in this area and the overtopping of the road, the
headwater depth reaches 7.07 feet from the pipe invert elevation in the 100 year design storm.

A discussion on the alternatives studied ensues in the risk analysis. Due to the height of the
embankment (40 feet plus) of realigned Old Packhouse Road, the proposed structure was
designed to prevent said embankment from becoming a dam structure while passing current
modeled flows for the 2, 10, 25 and 100 year runoff events via gravity flow.

The proposed design includes an 8’ x 14’ wide box culvert with baffles to replicate a natural
stream bed condition. The location of the box culvert accommodates the existing meandering
stream channel, inletting upstream of the existing culvert along the existing channel and
outletting to the existing natural stilling pool near the end of the 33” pipe to be removed.

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Hydrology and Hydraulics Report © March, 2003

A. Site Data

1. Location Map:

a. Figure 1 shows the proposed Old Packhouse Road alignment, watershed

boundary and reach of the unnamed tributary to the Jordan Creek. The
existing crossing is approximately 6,000 ft upstream of the main branch of the
Jordan Creek.

b. Type:

(1). Figure 1 depicts the Cementon USGS quadrangle.

(2). Figure 2 is an aerial photograph with the proposed alignment.

2. Existing Structures

a. There are no existing structures upstream or downstream from the proposed

crossing.

b. The existing crossing is a 33” non-corrugated metal cross pipe.

(1) Type of structure, including span lengths and pier orientation. N/A
(2) The existing pipe has a skew of ± 68°.
(3) The stream is an ungaged, unnamed tributary to the Jordan Creek.
There is no FEMA mapping available for the study area. Per
discussions with North Whitehall Township officials, the existing culvert
and portion of Old Packhouse Road have been inundated in past runoff
events. However, the exact flood frequency can not be determined.

c. The new box culvert will outlet near the existing pipe outlet. The proposed
entrance is upstream of the existing pipe.

d. The existing structure will be removed upon construction of the new culvert.

3. The stream is an ungaged, unnamed tributary to the Jordan Creek. There is no

FEMA mapping available for the study area. Per discussions with North
Whitehall Township officials, the existing culvert and portion of Old Packhouse
Road have been inundated in past runoff events. However, the exact flood
frequency can not be determined. The areas upstream and downstream of the
crossing are undeveloped. Flooding causes minimal, if any property damage.

4. Jordan Creek and its unnamed tributaries are not listed on the PA Fish and Boat
Commission’s February 1999 List of Surveyed Streams Having Verified Trout
Reproduction. Jordan Creek is classified as a 1-C Priority Waterway by the PA
DCNR Scenic Rivers System. Jordan Creek is classified as Approved Trout
Water by the PA Fish and Boat Commission in the 2000 PA Summary of Fishing
Regulations and Laws. The stream flow is continuous (a perennial stream).

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5. It is anticipated that drift, ice, stream bed and bank stability will not be a problem
at this crossing. The stream bed is mostly hard shale with some gravel and
cobble. It is extremely stable in its current condition. The banks range from a
few inches to one or two feet, and appear to be relatively stable with no severe
scour or other erosive features.

6. Photographs showing the existing pipe, location of proposed culvert and the main
channel are attached in Appendix A.

7. Factors affecting water stages:

a. Highwater from other streams. N/A

b. Reservoirs and approximate date of construction. There is a pond located
upstream of the culvert that was used by Trexler Orchards many decades
ago. However due to the age of the pond and lack of maintenance, it was
determined that this pond should not be considered in these hydraulic
calculations.
c. Flood control projects. N/A
d. Other controls. N/A

8. There is no evidence of a debris problem at the current culvert. The area

upstream is undeveloped and in a wooded condition. Occasionally, branches
and leaves accumulate near the crossing. Therefore, debris could potentially be
a problem.

9. Several site inspections were made by the Engineer making hydrologic and
hydraulic analysis. This information was used in combination with surveyed
topography in design and analysis.

10. Design Field View documents were approved 12/28/01.

B. Hydrologic Analysis

1. The drainage area to the crossing was determined from the USGS Cementon
Quadrangle map, the Jordan Creek Act 167 study, and aerial photography
mapping.

2. There are no flood records or mapping available for this ungaged, unnamed
tributary to the Jordan Creek.

3. The design flood discharges were determined using the TR-55 method. The
drainage basin to the culvert is approximately 255.26 acres (0.4mi2). The curve
number and subsequently runoff hydrograph remain unchanged with
reconstruction of Old Packhouse Road and detention pond. The runoff is
summarized in the following table. The TR-55 generated flows to the culvert
were compared to the Act 167 Jordan Creek watershed flows. The culvert is
located at the base of subarea 102, and the corresponding flows are shown in
the following table.

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Hydrology and Hydraulics Report © March, 2003

Table 1
Existing and Proposed Flows

Runoff Event (yr.) TR-55 Flow (cfs) Act 167 Flow (cfs)
Normal Unavailable
2 175.9 164.5
10 451.3 337.2
25 555.5 456.6
100 809.7 765.0

4. A flood-frequency curve for the above data is included in Appendix B.

5. The stage-discharge-rating curves for the existing crossing are included in

Appendix B. The calculations for the proposed crossing are in Appendix C.

C. Hydraulic Analysis. A “Flood Insurance Study”, has not been established by FEMA,
for this area.

1. Bridges: N/A

2. Culverts:

a. The new alignment of Old Packhouse Road will be significantly higher than
the existing crossing. In order to approximate existing “pond” conditions, the
headwater depth needed to pass the runoff events (listed above) through the
existing cross pipe were used as the design criteria. These headwater depths
are summarized in Table 2.

The new Old Packhouse Road will be higher than the proposed culvert. The
roadway elevation has been increased from the existing conditions to improve
vertical alignment, balance cut/fill, and reduce the lateral limits of grading.

Table 2
Existing & Proposed Headwater Depth

Runnoff Current/Required Existing Proposed

Event Flow (cfs) HW Depth HW
(ft) Depth
(ft)
2 175.90 5.46 3.45
10 451.30 6.34 5.98
25 555.50 6.58 6.79
100 809.70 7.07 8.59

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Hydrology and Hydraulics Report © March, 2003

b. The culvert will not have an improved inlet. The stream flow is normally
continuous. The culvert floor will be constructed with baffles and depressed
one foot below the streambed. The culvert will have one foot of fill to promote
natural streambed conditions, therefore the actual culvert size is 8’x14’.

c. The size of the culvert was determined for various discharges in accordance
with the allowable headwater (AHW) depth with due considerations given to
economic, safety, damage and environmental factors. The methodologies of
Federal Highway Administration’s Design Series No. 5, “Hydraulic Design of
Highway Culverts” (HY8) and HEC-RAS version 3.0.1, were used to
approximate headwater depths and water service elevations.

d. The crossing area is currently undeveloped. Flooding of this area poses no

risk to life or of property damage. Therefore, economic impact is minimal.

e. Installation of the box culvert will require temporary stream changes during
construction. Construction must occur in a no flow or low flow period.

3. Channel Changes: N/A

D. Risk Assessment

A number of structures have been investigated in order to duplicate the flow,

headwater, and vegetative conditions. The following items were considered in the
selection and design of the proposed culvert:

• Maximum duration of detour eliminates construction of a cast-in-place structure.

• Low upstream head, and subsequently inlet control suggests a need for an improved
inlet with both slope and side tapers.

Three options were investigated:

(1) Twin elliptical pipes, with an improved inlet structure.

(2) Pre-cast box culvert with an improved inlet structure.
(3) A smaller structure with a higher headwater elevation to increase in headwater for
short durations of time for a more cost effective design.

During the value engineering phase of the project it was determined that a post
tensioned, precast, reinforced concrete box culvert would be a more efficient design.

1. The proposed structure does not affect existing flood discharges. The proposed
hydraulic opening is significantly larger than the existing 33” cross pipe because the
existing alignment has been known to overtop and the proposed alignment is higher
than the existing crossing. The current headwater required to pass the 100 yr. storm
and wetlands conditions were duplicated as closely as possible by using a partially
filled 8’ x 14’ box culvert. The typical baffle layout should keep the low flow
concentrated.

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Hydrology and Hydraulics Report © March, 2003

There will be a wetland mitigation area adjacent to the downstream face of the
culvert. The proposed alignment improves the vertical and horizontal alignment and
capacity of Old Packhouse Road. No social, economic, engineering or
environmental risks are anticipated.

2. The alignment is not located in a sensitive urban area. An occasional flowage

easement encompassing an area one foot (minimum) vertically above the 100 yr.
headwater elevation will be established. KidsPeace, the property owner, has
indicated acceptance of a flowage easement. A copy of the metes and bounds
description is included in Appendix C.

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Hydrology and Hydraulics Report © March, 2003

E. Summary Data Sheet

Highway Route No. & Segment Old Packhouse Road (T-683)

Station 28+80.71
County Lehigh
Township North Whitehall
Stream Unnamed Tributary of Jordan Creek
Drainage Area 0.40 mi2
Location USGS Quadrangle Cementon, PA
Longitude 75°37’0”, Latitude 40°39’30”
Avg. existing stream top width
Avg. existing stream bottom width
Normal flow depth Ungaged: 1” depth in pipe on 9/18/02
Upstream face steam bed elevation (See Appendix H)
Downstream face steam bed elevation (See Appendix H)
Structure (See Table 3) Single span concrete box culvert
Skew 54°01’33” Skew with closest Tangent of
T-685
14’ Wide 8’ Rise with no drop entrance on
grade 1’ of fill; Hydraulic opening of 7’ rise
Length: 152’ Slope: 2.48%
ACOE Nationwide Permits N/A
Wetland Impacts 0.2289 Acres will be impacted and 0.2309
acres will be restored via wetland
mitigation

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