Corps Commander confirms plan to adjust alignment of floodwall near airport

Published Nov. 5, 2009

New Orleans, LA – Col. Alvin Lee, New Orleans District Commander, has signed the environmental document that allows the Corps to slightly realign the portion of the West Return Floodwall which runs along the Jefferson and St. Charles parish line, near the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

Individual Environmental Report Supplemental 2.a, “West Return Floodwall,” was released for public review in September and discusses changes from the Corps’ original plan to reduce risk along the Jefferson lakefront. The revised plan includes:

• A realignment of the concrete floodwall wall near the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
• Approx. 16.5 acres of new impacts to the La Branche Wetlands
• Widening of a base slab on the protected side of the current West Return Floodwall
• Conversion of current pedestrian gates into vehicular gates
• A new construction staging area

The Corps will host a series of public meetings to brief St. Charles and Jefferson Parish residents on unavoidable impacts they can expect when construction of the new West Return Floodwall begins. The construction contract is expected to be available for bid in December 2009.

Questions or comments concerning the Corps’ environmental process should be addressed to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
c/o Joan Exnicios
P.O. Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Phone: 504-862-1760
Fax: 504-862-2088
E-mail: MVNenvironmental@usace.army.mil.

For more information or to sign up to be on a meeting notification list please visit the following Web site: www.nolaenvironmental.gov or www.mvn.usace.army.mil.


Release no. 09-028