NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Corps will move forward with plans to modify the methods in which some Plaquemines Parish risk reduction features are constructed. Col. Edward Fleming, New Orleans District Commander, signed the Decision Record for Individual Environmental Report 12 Supplemental which proposed design changes for construction of portions of the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.
“The temporary weekend traffic impacts at the Belle Chasse Tunnel allow the Corps to safely construct the risk reduction measures along the Algiers Canal,” said Ted Carr, project manager. “We’re working to minimize the construction impacts as much as possible but ultimately, these temporary inconveniences will allow the Corps to build a system that will defend against hurricane storm surge.”
Col. Fleming’s signature on the environmental document means the Corps will move forward with:
• Construction of building gates at the entrance and exit of the Belle Chasse Tunnel, additional project gates, floodwall and levee risk reduction features, and the re-routing of the golf course access road. Construction of these risk reduction features would generate traffic impacts to residents and commuters.
- The proposed construction schedule would call for a complete closure of the Belle Chasse tunnel each Friday from about 7 p.m. to the following Monday at about 5 a.m. for approximately 15 weekends beginning in about March 2011.
- During about the 12th week of the construction, the tunnel would be reduced to one lane of traffic.
- Two-way traffic would be allowed on the Belle Chasse Bridge on the construction weekends, similar to how the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development closes the tunnel for routine maintenance work.
• Using the “Westbank N” borrow site as an alternative disposal site for levee material removed during the construction of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway West Closure Complex eastern floodwall and road realignment, and from construction of the Hero Canal Levee.
Draft IER 12 Supplemental Addendum was release for public review in Oct. 2010. A public meeting to discuss the proposed refinements was held during the 30-day comment period. The final version of Individual Environmental Report 12 Supplemental Addendum may be downloaded at www.nolaenvironmental.gov, hard copies are available by request at mvnenvironmental@usace.army.mil.
Questions or comments concerning the hurricane system should be addressed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
c/o Public Affairs
PO Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Phone: 504-862-2201
Fax: 504-862-1724
E-mail: AskTheCorps@usace.army.mil