NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, is hosting two public meetings on Oct. 13, 2011 to discuss continued construction activities at the Seabrook Floodgate Complex.
The Seabrook Floodgate Complex is a feature of the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System. The complex works in tandem with the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lake Borgne Surge Barrier to reduce s torm damage risk in portions of New Orleans hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Although under construction, the structure’s temporary cofferdam currently defends against a 100-year storm surge event.
"While the cofferdam and floodwall tie-ins currently defend against a 100-year storm, the project completion schedule has shifted," said Eric Stricklin, project manager for the Corps. "The completion date is now scheduled for the spring of 2012. These public meetings will give residents and businesses the opportunity to give us feedback on how the schedule change impacts them."
For the safety of construction workers and navigation, the Corps closed the north end of the IHNC (also known locally as the Industrial Canal) to all vessels by placing a rock closure and steel cofferdam near its mouth at Lake Pontchartrain. Vessels can still reach Lake Pontchartrain by traveling on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and through the Rigolets.
"We understand that construction of the Seabrook Floodgate Complex creates some inconveniences and we are working diligently to complete construction," added Stricklin.
Meeting details are:
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011
Port of New Orleans
1350 Port of New Orleans Place
New Orleans LA 70160
Open House 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Presentation 9 a.m.
Thursd ay, Oct. 13, 2011
St. Gabriel the Archangel Church - Parish Hall 5010 Piety Drive New Orleans, LA 70126 Open House 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.
Presentation 6:30 p.m.
These public meetings are being held in anticipation of the development of Individual Environmental Report Supplemental (IERS) 11.d Tier 2 Pontchartrain, an environmental document which will disclose anticipated impacts of continued construction of the Seabrook Floodgate Complex. The meeting presentations will also provide an update on improvements made to floodwalls along the Industrial Canal Corridor.
When complete, the complex will consist of a sector gate and two adjacent vertical lift gates south of the Senator Ted Hickey (Seabrook) Bridge. If at any time there are questions about construction of the system or any other Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System projects, call the Corps’ toll free Construction Hotline at 877-427-0345.