Project begins to reduce flooding in Rock Hill community

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Heavy rainfall has caused flooding in the College Downs area of Rock Hill for decades, and the city said a $2.1 million project to fix the problem is underway.

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“You get a day of heavy rain, and it backs up and that water comes from the creek all the way up past this development,” Resident Brian Muhammed said. “Sometimes they even have to get boats to come out here to get people out.”

Muhammed said sometimes the water nearly reaches the nets on the basketball courts at College Downs Park. Moderate rain also leaves some residents trapped in their homes.

Councilmember Perry Sutton, Ward 5, said the project to reduce flooding has begun.

“We’ve been down here in the past week four times talking to residents and looking at the plans,” Sutton said.

“Crews will shorten parts of Doby and King streets,” Sutton told Channel 9. “They’ll lower the area and turn it into greenspace.”

They are creating additional capacity for which the water to flow. A roundabout will also be constructed, which will give people a new way out of the neighborhood.

[ALSO READ: Rock Hill homeowners concerned after letter warns of flooding risk]

Muhammed questions whether the plan will work to reduce flooding.

“It’s still going to flood,” Muhammed said.

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Sutton is hopeful the project will be successful.

“The road project is supposed to be completed by the end of May,” Sutton said. “And if that doesn’t work, we’ll be right back here doing something else. But we’re going to take care of this problem.”

(Watch the video below: Cars stuck in flooding on North Tryon)

Cars stuck in flooding on North Tryon

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