NEW ORLEANS – The Corps of Engineers recently awarded two construction contracts that, once completed, will help reduce the risk of impacts from storm surge for residences and businesses on the east bank of Jefferson Parish. Contracts were awarded for the Reach 1 Levee Enlargement and the Duncan Pump Station Breakwater and will be completed by hurricane season of 2011.
“Construction to bring the Jefferson Parish Lakefront up to the 100-year level of risk reduction is in full swing,” says Mervin Morehiser, project manager. “Levee and breakwater construction is ongoing, and fronting protection and floodgate construction is scheduled for the near future.”
The Reach 1 levee enlargement contract was awarded Tuesday, Aug. 18, to Phylway Construction, LLC, of Thibodeaux, LA, a small business, for approximately $3M. Reach 1 stretches approximately 2 miles from the Duncan Pump Station to the West Return Floodwall and will be raised to +16.5 ft, the 100-year elevation needed to reduce impacts from a storm event that has a 1 percent chance of occurring each year.
The Duncan Pump Station breakwater contract was awarded Friday, Aug. 21 to Boh Bros Construction Co., LLC of New Orleans for approximately $8 M. The concrete and steel pile breakwater will stretch out into Lake Pontchartrain near the Duncan Pump Station discharge channel. This feature knocks down waves associated with storm surge, providing further risk reduction for the pump station.
Please address questions about Corps projects to AskTheCorps@usace.army.mil.
Release no. 09-067