By Renee Simpson
The parish is preparing to replace an existing 60-inch corrugated metal culvert under Ormond Boulevard in Destrehan, a project that will force traffic detours on the major thoroughfare.
The new structure will consist of a wider concrete arch culvert supported by pilings, according to Volkert and Associates, the engineer on the project. Water flow under the boulevard would be increased from 350 cubic feet per second to 1,413 cubic feet per second. The pathway drains subdivisions west of Ormond Boulevard to the Destrehan I pumping station.
The parish is spending additional design time on this particular project due to its location near major utilities, including water, sewer, phone, cable, gas and electrical infrastructure. This will insure residents are provided with a safe alternative traffic route and cost-effective management of utility lines that would be affected.
Once the project is started, construction is expected to last 120 days in two phases. Pedestrian and bike traffic will not be allowed in the area for the duration of the project. Lane detours will affect traffic in both directions, with one lane being open to traffic north and south.
New parish marketing video is now online
A skilled workforce, access to multi-modal transportation and rich cultural heritage make St. Charles Parish a perfect spot for business location and/or expansion.
That’s the main idea of the parish’s new economic development marketing video, produced by Berning Productions of New Orleans and partially funded by a grant from the state office of economic development.
The video highlights business success stories in St. Charles Parish, including RANDA Corp., the Norco Edible Enterprises food business incubator and Valero Energy Corp.
To view the video, log on to stcharlesparish-la.gov and click on the button on the left side of the page.
Corps awards $29 million to reduce risk in St. Charles
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District recently awarded five contracts totaling more than $29 million to build a drainage structure, enlarge approximately three miles of levees and replace two floodwalls in St. Charles Parish.
Quality Enterprises USA was awarded a $6.4 million contract for construction of the new St. Rose drainage structure. The contract also includes the enlargement of 0.5 miles of levee and concrete T-walls, which will tie into the enlarged levee.
The four following contracts were awarded through the Corps’ small business program:
•Creek Services, LLC, of Gretna, was awarded a nearly $8 million contract to raise the existing levee from the I-310 Floodwall to the Walker Drainage Structure to elevation +15.5 feet.
•Bucktown Contractors & Co., of Kenner, was awarded a $6.6 million contract to enlarge the levee from the Shell Pipeline to the Goodhope Floodwall to elevation +16.5 feet.
•Integrated PRO Services LLC, of New Orleans, was awarded a $2.4 million contract to replace the existing Goodhope Floodwall with a new floodwall to elevation +17 feet.
•Healtheon, Inc., of New Orleans, was awarded a nearly $6 million contract to construct a floodwall in front of the existing Bayou Trepagnier Pump Station. The floodwall will be constructed to elevation 18.5 feet.
These projects will reduce risk for communities on the east bank of St. Charles Parish from a storm surge event that has a 1 percent chance of occurring each year. The Corps is sharing project responsibilities with its non-federal partner, the Pontchartrain Levee District. Construction is expected to begin during the first quarter of 2010.
Renee Allemand Simpson serves as Public Information Officer for St. Charles Parish. She can be reached at (985) 783-5183 or rsimpson@stcharlesgov.net.
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