St. Charles Parish officials celebrated the completion of the first of six phases of improvements to the Primrose Canal in Luling at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 21. The improvements will widen and stabilize the banks of the major drainage artery in the Mimosa neighborhood to improve the flow of water in the canal, according to Francesca Blanchard, a spokesperson for the parish.
The first phase of the project, which began in April, cost nearly $3 million. Designed by C.H. Fenstermaker & Associates and built by Omega Foundation Services, the improvements included the installation of 1,400 linear feet of 35-foot-long sheet piles from the Cousins Canal to Lagattuta Drive and St. Nicholas Street crossing, according to Blanchard.
Future phases of the project will add sheet pile to the entire length of the canal. The parish expects the second phase of the project to be completed by the end of 2025, barring weather delays and any unforeseen circumstances during construction, Blanchard said.
“We do not have a timeline or total cost for future projects at this time,” Blanchard said “However this project will remain a priority, and we will continue to work to budget for additional phases of this project.”
Blanchard said the project also cleared overgrown vegetation along the canal bank.
“The [clearing] decreases the amount of time our public works crews have to spend cutting grass and maintaining the canal,” she said.
Parish President Matthew Jewell said in a press released that the project showcases the robust and resilient infrastructure needed to protect the community from severe weather.
“We will continue to commit funding for the infrastructure parish residents deserve,” he said.
