NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District awarded four contracts totaling over $115 million to construct fronting protection at several pump stations in the West Bank & Vicinity portion of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System. Fronting Protection construction ensures that a continuous line of risk reduction is present at each of the pump stations within the system in order to reduce risk for residences and businesses.
“Construction of fronting protection is an important part in bringing the West Bank & Vicinity portion of the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System to the 100-year level of risk reduction,” said Julie Vignes, Senior Project Manager. “These features will protect the pump stations from seepage and higher water elevations in the Algiers Canal due to retention, as well as preventing any water from backflowing through the pump station.”
Fronting protection contracts were awarded for four pump stations along the Algiers Canal in Orleans, Jefferson, and Plaquemines Parish.
o A $29.9 million contract was awarded to Boh Bros Construction, LLC for Sewerage & Water Board Pump Station #13 in Orleans Parish.
o A $21.3 million contract was awarded to Boh Bros Construction, LLC for the Sewerage & Water Board Pump Station #11 in Orleans Parish.
o A $31.7 million contract was awarded to Boh Bros Construction, LLC for Belle Chasse Pump Station #1 in Plaquemines Parish.
o A $33 million contract was awarded to Kiewit Louisiana Co. for Planters Pump Station in Jefferson Parish.
These contracts will construct T-walls in front of the pump station and extend the discharge tubes through the floodwall. Valves or gates will also be constructed to prevent any water from backflowing through the pumps. The fronting protection features will tie in to the existing risk reduction features on either side of the pump station.
The Corps is sharing responsibilities with its non-federal partners, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West, and the West Jefferson Levee District, as well as Orleans, Jefferson, and Plaquemines parishes.