Located in a residential area, the Notre Dame Bridge is a main connection point between the Jardines Metropolitanos, Villa Nevárez, and University Gardens communities. During storms, water often rises to the top of bridge and flows into the street. Additionally, the existing stormwater pipes and inlets built into the bridge have collapsed and threaten the structural integrity of the bridge itself.
Because the banks of the Río Piedras will be widened and reinforced with concrete walls, the bridge must be rebuilt to accommodate the redesigned channel. Additionally, the bridge will meet the latest seismic requirements to allow it to withstand significant earthquakes.
In this section of the Río Piedras, the river will be deepened to increase channel capacity and efficiently convey water downstream and the banks of the river will be reinforced with concrete walls to provide structural stability while ensuring that water moves efficiently downstream without flooding. The river bottom will not be filled with concrete. Although riprap and other grade control structures will be added to prevent erosion, the river bottom will feature natural soil, rocks, and vegetation.
Currently, erosion from the consistent flooding is causing mature trees to fall into the river. After construction is completed, the remaining green spaces will be replanted with vegetation, and native / non-invasive trees to maintain the beautiful, parklike view of the river.
This phase of the project involves constructing a new diversion channel for the Quebrada Buena Vista in Villa Nevárez. The existing channel, which is small and flows between Calle 13 and 15, under Villa Nevárez Park, and between Calle 10 and 18 to meet the Río Piedras, will remain. However, a new diversion canal will be built from PR-21 to guide floodwater from the Quebrada Buena Vista to the Río Piedras on the far west side of the University of Puerto Rico Experimental Station. The canal will be built underground and the area it runs under will be restored. This diversion canal will reroute over 90% of the maximum water that floods Villa Nevárez during a 100-year storm event and is essential in protecting homes in the community from flood waters.