NEW ORLEANS -The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently awarded a contract to make improvements to Justice and Oil Company Canals on the west bank of Jefferson Parish. The project, which is part of the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Damage Reduction Project (SELA), will reduce the risk of damages from a rainfall event that has a chance of occurring once in every ten years.
On June 21, the Corps awarded a $13.6 million contract to Louisiana-based Merrick Construction, LLC. The approximately 27-month contract calls for installing a new drainage culvert at Oil Company Canal near 8th Street; as well as widening and improving Justice Canal with concrete and rip rap between 4th Street and Barataria Boulevard. A notice to proceed was issued on June 23, and construction will be completed by the end of 2013.
The majority of the work to improve major drainage canals and pump stations on the west bank of Jefferson Parish is complete. A total of 42 contracts have been awarded to date, with work completed on 39 of those projects. All scheduled SELA work in Jefferson Parish should be finished in 2017.
Release no. 11-042