Phase II of lakefront work in Orleans Metro
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently awarded a $5.5 million contract to Aquaterra-Cayo, Joint Venture, a Texas-based firm, to construct floodgates between Orleans and London Avenue on the lakefront. This is the final risk reduction contract for perimeter work in Orleans Parish.
"In the past five years, we have made tremendous progress in giving the people of Southeast Louisiana the kind of flood protection they truly need and deserve. We are still about a year away from reaching 100-year flood protection. While we mark this milestone, we know we can’t stop here. We must turn our attention and resources to a greater level of protection including the next goal of 500-year protection," said Tim Doody, president of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East."
The contract calls for constructing a new floodgate across the Rail Street ramp, as well as a new floodgate across the Lakeshore Drive and London Avenue Canal ramp. When complete, the project will reduce the impacts from a storm surge event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year.
"It is great that we are able to work so closely with the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana to reduce risk for the citizens of the greater New Orleans area,” said Capt. Robert Schmidt, the Corps’ Officer in Charge for Orleans Parish.
Construction is scheduled to begin next month and will take approximately six months to complete.
Release no. 10-039