May 27, 2025

Carmel Village CMP Alternative

Carmel Village CMP Alternative

After a collapsed corrugated metal pipe caused a sinkhole in a Chandler, AZ parking lot, a new linear StormCapture® configuration delivered a high-performance alternative stormwater storage solution. 

The challenge

Located in the heart of Chandler, Arizona—a rapidly growing suburb southeast of Phoenix—Carmel Village is a retail shopping center that serves both daily commuters and local residents. As part of a bustling commercial corridor, maintaining access and safety for vehicles is critical to supporting surrounding businesses.

However, a significant infrastructure failure created major disruption for over a year. A 96-inch corrugated metal pipe (CMP) storm drain beneath a primary driveway collapsed, resulting in a large sinkhole that made the shopping center’s parking lot and access route unusable.

This deterioration not only compromised safety and aesthetics, but also limited access for customers and deliveries, reducing the commercial viability of the property.

Further complicating the matter, the City of Chandler—citing long-term durability concerns—has banned the use of CMP in public infrastructure projects, favoring more robust, long-lasting alternatives.

While this particular project was privately funded, local contractor EKR Construction strongly advocated for a more permanent and high-performance solution that aligned with the city’s preferences.

 

The solution

To address the urgent infrastructure failure and ensure long-term performance, the project team selected Oldcastle Infrastructure’s StormCapture® system as the solution of choice. With its precast concrete, modular design, StormCapture offers high strength, long service life, and design flexibility that made it ideal for this application.

Given the layout constraints and the need to maximize storage in a confined footprint, the project utilized a linear StormCapture design, which allowed the system to fit seamlessly beneath the driveway while still meeting required stormwater storage volumes.

The StormCapture system not only addressed the immediate failure but also provided a sustainable stormwater management solution in line with Arizona’s stormwater challenges—where intense but infrequent rainfall events can cause flooding if not properly managed.

Oldcastle Infrastructure worked closely with EKR Construction during the planning and design phases to develop a layout tailored to the site’s specific volume and footprint requirements. The solution provided peace of mind to stakeholders by eliminating the risk of future collapse and offering a system that requires minimal long-term maintenance.

 

The outcome

The project was completed in March 2025, and the results were immediate and impactful. The parking lot was repaired and fully repaved, restoring both the appearance and functionality of the site.

Most importantly, the StormCapture system ensures long-term stormwater performance while enhancing structural integrity beneath the drive lane.

This project not only resolved a long-standing hazard, but it also demonstrated the viability and value of using StormCapture on private commercial developments. In a region like Chandler, this installation provides a model for resilient stormwater management that meets both immediate and long-term needs.

 

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