Permanent Canal Closure and Pump (PCCP), London Avenue Canal
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, and its contractor will temporarily close Lakeshore Drive between Pratt Drive and the entrance to the University of New Orleans on January 10, 2014 to accommodate construction of the new PCCP at the London Avenue outfall canal. Throughout construction, public safety is the Corps’ number one priority.
The temporarily closure will begin at 7:00 a.m. and allow workers to position cranes, barges and other equipment in the canal. Lakeshore Drive will be reopened to traffic at 5:00 p.m.
The Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps at 17th Street, Orleans Avenue and London Avenue will provide a permanent and more sustainable measure for reducing the risk of a 100-year level storm surge entering the outfall canals. The Interim Closure Structures (ICS) will continue to provide 100-year levels of storm surge risk reduction until the permanent pumps are constructed and operational. Since their construction in 2006, these temporary structures have performed as designed in five named tropical weather events, most recently during Hurricane Isaac.
As construction of the Permanent Canal Closures & Pumps continues, residents and commuters are urged to use caution near active construction sites. If there are questions about construction of the system, call the Corps’ toll free Construction Hotline at 877-427-034 or “like” us on Facebook www.facebook.com/permpumps to get regular updates.
Release no. 14-002