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News Releases: All Articles
MRGO Ecosystem Restoration Chief of Engineers Report signed |
Posted on Wednesday, October 03, 2012
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the Chief of Engineers’ Report for the "Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study" recommending construction of the restoration plan upon ...
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the Chief of Engineers’ Report for the "Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study" recommending construction of the restoration plan upon identification of a non-federal cost share sponsor.
The Corps of Engineers worked diligently in collaboration with the State of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), other local governmental entities, resource agencies, environmental organizations, landowners and interested citizens to produce a plan to restore the critical Lake Borgne and environs ecosystem. The MRGO Ecosystem Restoration Chief of Engineers’ Report recommends construction of the Federally Identified Plan, which would restore over 57,000 acres of important wetland and coastal habitat areas at a total cost of $3 billion. This plan is implementable in a tiered sequence consisting of numerous smaller elements.
Because of the critical importance of this project, the Corps took the unusual step to execute a full study notwithstanding the absence of an identified sponsor willing to cost share implementation at 65% federal 35% non-federal. Federal law, Section 103 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, as amended, requires that all coastal restoration projects have a willing, non-federal cost share sponsor to implement the project. At this time, such a cost-share sponsor has not been identified. Once such a cost share sponsor is identified, the Corps can proceed to implement elements of the plan subject to availability of funds.
The Corps of Engineers is grateful to its many partners for helping to develop this comprehensive restoration plan, especially Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. The Corps remains committed to collaborating with all of its partners in the restoration of coastal Louisiana, and looks forward to having a non-federal sponsor join us in the execution of the MRGO Ecosystem Restoration Plan.
The signed Chief of Engineers Report, along with the MRGO Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study Report and Final Environmental Impact Statement are available on www.mrgo.gov .
For Immediate Release:
October 2, 2012
Contact:
Ken Holder
504-862-1522
Ken.Holder@usace.army.mil
Corps awards Carrollton Levee Enlargement contract |
Posted on Tuesday, October 02, 2012
NEW ORLEANS –On September 28, 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District awarded a $3,799,212 construction contract to Cycle Construction for raising the Carrollton reach of the Mississippi River levee in Orleans Parish. This work ...
NEW ORLEANS –On September 28, 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District awarded a $3,799,212 construction contract to Cycle Construction for raising the Carrollton reach of the Mississippi River levee in Orleans Parish. This work will raise 10,000 feet of river levee approximately one to two feet along the east bank of the river between the Orleans/Jefferson Parish line and Audubon Park Riverview. Construction is estimated to take 10 to 12 months to complete and will bring this levee section up to its Congressionally-authorized dimensions.
In November 2012, the contractor will begin work near the parish line and progress to the Corps’ New Orleans District headquarters. During construction of this levee section, access to the multi-purpose road between the New Orleans District and Jefferson Parish line will be restricted.
In an effort to minimize impacts to recreational activities at the Audubon Park Riverview, locally known as “the Fly,” construction in that area will take place between May 15 and August 1, 2013. During this time, access to the multi-purpose road along the levee downriver from the New Orleans District will be unavailable.
For Immediate Release:
October 1, 2012
Ricky Boyett: (504) 862-1524 After Hours: (504) 756-2811
Corps awards contract for Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps |
Posted on Monday, October 01, 2012
NEW ORLEANS – On September 28, 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District awarded a $629,500,000 contract to the joint venture PCCP Constructors for the construction of the Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps at the London Ave., Orle ...
NEW ORLEANS – On September 28, 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District awarded a $629,500,000 contract to the joint venture PCCP Constructors for the construction of the Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps at the London Ave., Orleans Ave. and 17th Street outfall canals.
The Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps will provide permanent and more sustainable measures for reducing the risk of a 100-year level storm surge entering the three outfall canals. This risk reduction is currently being provided by interim closure structures.
The interim closure structures will continue to provide 100-year levels of storm surge risk reduction until the permanent pumps are constructed and operational. Since their construction in 2 006, these temporary structures have performed as designed in four named tropical weather events, most recently during Hurricane Isaac.
The PCCP Constructors joint venture is comprised of Kiewit Louisiana Co., Traylor Bros. Inc., and the M.R. Pittman group, LLC.
For more information on the Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps or the existing interim closure structures, please contact Ricky Boyett at 504-862-1524, 504-616-7519 or ricky.d.boyett@usace.army.mil.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ricky Boyett
504-862-1524
504-756-2811
Corps awards Jefferson Parish west bank interior drainage construction contract |
Posted on Thursday, September 27, 2012
NEW ORLEANS -The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District recently awarded construction on a 28-month contract to make improvements to the northern portion of Murphy Canal on the west bank of Jefferson Parish. The project, which is part of ...
NEW ORLEANS -The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District recently awarded construction on a 28-month contract to make improvements to the northern portion of Murphy Canal on the west bank of Jefferson Parish. The project, which is part of the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Damage Reduction Project (SELA), will reduce the risk of damages from a 10-year rainfall event. A 10-year event is basically a rain storm that has a 10% annual probability of occurrence and equates to approximately 9 inches of rain over a 24-hour period for our area.
The $22.4 million contract calls for Conquistador-Dorado JV to widen and improve approximately 12,300 linear feet of the existing Murphy and Gardere canals. The project area runs along the existing canal and begins just north of Lapalco Blvd, and ends just south of the entrance to Boomtown Casino, along the east side of Peters Rd. A notice to proceed is expected to be issued by mid-October and construction will be completed in the beginning of 2015.
The Corps continues to work closely with its partners at the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and Jefferson Parish on the SELA program. To date, the majority of the work to improve major drainage canals and pump stations on the west bank of Jefferson Parish is complete. A total of 53 contracts have been awarded in Jefferson Parish to date, with work completed on 45 of those projects. All scheduled SELA work in Jefferson Parish should be finished in 2017.
For Immediate Release: September 27, 2012
Corps construction to temporarily close Belle Chasse Tunnel |
Posted on Thursday, September 20, 2012
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) and Plaquemines Parish Government to temporarily close the Belle Chasse Tunnel from Septemb ...
Closure scheduled from September 21 through September 24
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) and Plaquemines Parish Government to temporarily close the Belle Chasse Tunnel from September 21 through September 24, 2012 to complete the installation of roller gates at the entrance and exit of the tunnel. This work is part of the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, which reduces the risk associated with a storm surge event that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year, or a 100-year storm surge.
“The tunnel will be closed at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening and then re-open at 5:00 a.m. on Monday to make final adjustments, test overhead roller gates and finish concrete work on the storage structure,” said Ted Carr, project manager. “This work was not completed during the previous closure because the tunnel was re-opened early to provide unrestricted traffic flow prior to Hurricane Isaac.”
The Belle Chasse Tunnel is part of Louisiana State Hwy 23 and typically allows two lanes of southbound traffic to pass beneath the Intracoastal Waterway in Plaquemines Parish. During the temporary weekend tunnel closure, a single lane of traffic in each direction (north and south) will be re-routed onto the Belle Chasse Bridge. The weekend re-routing will be similar to the LaDOTD’s monthly maintenance closures of the tunnel. In accordance with LaDOTD guidance, signage near the tunnel will remind drivers of the re-routing.
As construction of the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System continues, residents and commuters are urged to use caution near active construction sites. If at any time there are questions about construction of the system, call the Corps’ toll free Construction Hotline at 877-427-0345.
For Immediate Release:
September 20, 2012
Contact: Rene Poche
Business Hours: (504) 862-1767
Rene.G.Poche@usace.army.mil
After Hours: (504) 756-2811
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