NEW ORLEANS, LA – The US Army Corps of Engineers can move forward with real estate acquisition and finalizing designs for the 100-year risk reduction feature at the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway now that the Decision Record for Individual Environmental Report Supplemental 3.a titled “Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity, Jefferson East Bank, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana,” has been signed according to Corps officials.
“Now that the environmental compliance for this project is complete, our team will move forward with the solicitation and award of the contract to build the features that will reduce risk to Jefferson Parish,” said Gary Brouse, senior project manager. “Construction at the southern end of the Causeway should begin in the late spring or early summer of 2010.”
IER Supplemental 3.a was available for public review and comment from Nov. 5, 2009 through Dec. 4, 2009. Two public meetings at which members of the public could offer feedback on the proposed changes to the plan were held during the public review period.
The risk reduction feature at the south shore of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway will consist of a concrete T-wall, an overpass bridge and detour lane bridge spans. Animation showing conceptual images of these features may be viewed at
www.mvn.usace.army.mil.
Risk reduction from a storm surge event that has a 1 percent chance of occurring each year will be achieved in hurricane season 2011; however, construction of the additional features at the southern end of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway will continue through 2012.
Copies of the Decision Record and Final IER Supplemental 3.a are available for download at:
www.nolaenvironmental.gov or by request.
Questions or comments concerning Individual Environmental Reports or the Corps’ environmental processes may be addressed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
c/o Patricia Leroux
P.O. Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Phone: 504-862-1544
Fax: 504-862-2088
E-mail:
mvnenvironmental@usace.army.mil.