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LAPLACE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, recently awarded contracts for constructing the fourth and fifth levee reaches and pipeline crossing floodwall on the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction project.

The fourth levee reach contract was awarded on Friday, August 25 to EvCo Development LLC of Lafayette for the construction of reach 108, which composes 1.5 miles of the 17.5-mile levee. The levee elevation at reach 108 will be 8.6 feet. The contract at award is $22,396,107.50, and work will be performed in St. John the Baptist Parish, north of the eastern end of Garyville.

“The award for constructing the fourth levee reach on the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain (WSLP) Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction project solidifies USACE’s commitment to providing risk reduction to more than 60,000 people in the St. John the Baptist, St. James and St. Charles Parish,” said Col. Cullen A. Jones, New Orleans District commander. “USACE along with its partners at Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and Pontchartrain Levee District remain committed as we gain momentum on providing crucial protection to the three-parish area.”

The fifth levee reach contract was awarded August 25 to Dynamic Group of Baton Rouge for reach 104, which is approximately 2.5 miles long. The elevation for this reach will be 11.5 feet. The contract at award is $38,930,870.40, and work will be performed in St. John the Baptist Parish near LaPlace.

“USACE along with its partners at the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and Pontchartrain Levee District remain steadfast in delivering the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction project,” Jones said. “As we award the contract for the construction of the system’s fifth levee reach and pipeline crossing floodwall, we continue to push forward on delivering our commitment to residents of St. Charles, St. John and St. James Parishes.”

The West Shore Lake Pontchartrain project will achieve 100-year storm surge risk reduction by a variety of structural and non-structural features to include: levees, floodwalls, and pumps. While these features will reduce risk from storm surge associated with tropical events, they do not specifically reduce risk of flooding from significant rainfall. The project design team continues to work with the Non-Federal sponsor to acquire Rights of Entry (ROE) and coordinate with utilities and pipelines within the project footprint. Contracts completed include test sections, clay stockpiles, sand stockpiles, sand placement, and access road construction. For more information on the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain project:

• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/WestShoreLakePontchartrain
• Website: https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/About/Projects/BBA-2018/West-Shore-Lake-Pontchartrain/