NEW ORLEANS – One day after reaching the 100-year level risk reduction at the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers achieved another major Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System milestone today with the completion of the floodwall and floodgates between the 17th Street Canal and Topaz Street. With this completion, Metro New Orleans, which spans the lakefront from the 17th Street Canal to the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (Industrial Canal), can now defend against a storm surge event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year, or a 100-year storm surge event.
“We have worked diligently with our partners and stakeholders to ensure Metro New Orleans would be at the 100-year level of risk reduction for the 2011 hurricane season, and we have achieved that in this area,” said Col. Robert Sinkler, commander of the Hurricane Protection Office. “In addition, the completion of these projects has allowed the Corps to completely lift all construction-related road closures on Lakeshore Drive.”
Work in metro New Orleans consisted of constructing new “T-wall” floodwalls and vehicle floodgates; raising existing levees and roadway ramps; and modifying and strengthening existing floodgates, floodwalls and the Bayou St. John sector gate. All structural features in metro New Orleans were built to an elevation at or above 16 feet above sea level. The total construction value in metro New Orleans was approximately $74 million.
In addition to the levees, floodwalls and gates along the lakefront that were built or modified, interim closure structures built in 2006 will block 100-year storm surge from entering the 17th Street, Orleans Avenue and London Avenue outfall canals. The Seabrook interim closure structure, which consists of the cofferdam in which the Seabrook Floodgate Complex will be built, will block 100-year storm surge generated in Lake Pontchartrain from entering the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC).
Safety is the Corps’ number one priority. As construction of the Seabrook Floodgate Complex and other Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System projects continue, residents and commuters are reminded to use caution near active construction sites. If at any time there are questions about construction of the system, call the Corps’ toll free Construction Hotline at 877-427-0345.
To see construction photos of projects between the London Avenue Canal and the Industrial Canal, click here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamneworleans/sets/72157624778018919/
To see construction photos of projects between the Orleans Avenue Canal and the London Avenue Canal, click here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamneworleans/sets/72157623382286111/
To see construction photos of projects between the 17th Street Canal and the Orleans Avenue Canal, click here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/teamneworleans/sets/72157623506735506/
High resolution images are available upon request.