Christopher Shores, a south Newport News neighborhood built in 1949, has aging and inadequate stormwater infrastructure that contributes to street flooding during heavy rain. Some areas lack adequate drainage infrastructure altogether, while the existing system elsewhere cannot accommodate current runoff rates or meet modern stormwater requirements. Newport News is moving forward with the second phase of a major stormwater system replacement, with Henry S. Branscome LLC submitting the winning bid of $9,996,900, which was the lowest received by the City. The next-lowest bid was $12.9 million and the highest bid was around $14 million.
Construction on this phase of work is expected to take about two years, while a separate scope of work by Newport News Waterworks will cover water-line installation, valves and service transfers. The bid results show that Branscome’s overall advantage was driven particularly by its pricing on the stormwater infrastructure at the center of the project, which is intended meet current stormwater management standards and reduce the risk of street flooding from a 10-year storm event.
The contract covers considerably more than underground pipe. The work includes installation of storm sewer, dozens of precast concrete manholes and curb drop inlets, removal of the existing storm system, pavement demolition and replacement, curb and gutter replacement, driveway and sidewalk work, traffic control, tree removal, erosion and sediment control and right-of-way restoration. About 6,500 square yards of pavement will be demolished and replaced.
In other news:
Newport News Offers Programs to Reduce Flood Risk and Damage Newport News, Virginia, outlines several community resilience initiatives on its official city website aimed at reducing flood risks for residents. The Floodplain Assistance Program buys flood-prone properties and converts them into open space, while the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program funds stormwater improvements on private property. The FloodREADY Homes Program, now in its first phase, will provide resilience assessments to 150 homeowners in vulnerable and high-risk areas over three years.
Newport News Public Schools Plans New Attendance Zone Boundaries Newport News Public Schools is undertakinga Capacity and Utilization Study to redraw school attendance zones for the 2027-2028 school year. Working with planning firm WXY, the division will study facility capacity, enrollment projections, and transportation patterns before recommending revised boundaries to the School Board in January 2027. Public meetings begin in late September 2026, with an interactive web tool letting Newport News residents review data and share feedback on draft scenarios.
Mariner’s Museum Expert Explains Why Tiny Pests Cause Big Trouble Oliver Peterson, a conservation team member at The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, explains why the smallest pests, not the large scary ones, pose the greatest threat to collections. Booklice, cabinet beetles, and similar insects can measure just 1 to 3 millimeters, making them easy to miss until damage is done. The museum relies on Integrated Pest Management across its 90,000 square feet of collection space, using physical barriers, humidity control, and quarantine practices to protect wood, paper, textiles, and furs.
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