Anyone who’s driven along Mahoning Avenue and glanced over to where Austintown Middle School once stood, can’t help but notice what looks like massive steel tunnels lined up on the property.

The galvanized, corrugated, culverts dominate the site where Meijer is building a grocery superstore, scheduled to open a year from now.

Heavy equipment has started to excavate the earth so crews can install the pipes, which are part of the project’s storm management system designed to reduce the possibility of flooding from water runoff from the store’s paved parking lot.

Austintown Zoning Inspector Darren Crivelli tells 21 News that in addition to sending water to an existing retention pond on Fitch Boulevard north of the project site, the pipes will also be used to create an underground retention system beneath the property.

According to Crivelli, Meijer’s construction plans meet the stormwater management design criteria of the Mahoning County Engineer's Office and are adopted and enforced by the Austintown Zoning Department.

Back in May of 2019, Boardman, Canfield and Austintown had severe flooding after heavy rain, shutting down road ways and causing damages to store fronts. Since the flood, a joint board was formed to address stormwater issues in the area called the ABC Water and Storm District.

Additionally, in 2022, the Mahoning County Engineer's Office developed an 86-page Drainage Criteria and Stormwater Manual that new construction must meet. The technical manual is designed to be used as a tool to guide drainage designs, erosion control, sediment control, postconstruction runoff controls, and stormwater management for development and construction within Mahoning County.

Engineers said the specific site where the Meijer will go hasn't had a tendency to flood but the system needs to be in place to make sure water back up never happens. 

“The whole point of the storm water management is to contain the water, slow it down and to release it at a rate that’s a slower rate that the downstream areas can take and handle,” Jeff Smith of the Mahoning County Engineer's Office said.

A spokesperson from Meijer told 21 News the stormwater system work will be finished in mid-June. 

“Meijer is a leader in stormwater management, keeping sustainability at the forefront from the start of construction to ensure we are protecting nearby waterways,” the statement said. 

Meijer did not share an official opening day for the store but said construction is expected to take about 12 to 18 months.

In addition to the store, Meijer plans to build a gas station on adjacent property.