Hurricane Protection Levee
St. Charles Parish, North of Airline Highway

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Overall Map

Reach 1A

Reach 1B

Reach 2A

Reach 2B

Location

The St. Charles Parish North of Airline Highway levee, a feature of the Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana and Vicinity Hurricane Protection project, is located in southeastern Louisiana in St. Charles Parish on the East Bank of the Mississippi River. The levee is oriented in an east-west direction and separates the developed areas in St. Charles Parish from the approximately 26,000 acres of wetlands on the north side of the levee, known as the “LaBranche Wetlands.” On its eastern end, the levee ties into the Jefferson/St. Charles Return Levee just south of the east-west runway extension. In general, the levee parallels Airline Highway to where, at its western limits, it turns north and goes around the Shell Oil Company tank farm and ties into the east guide levee of the Bonnet Carre Spillway.

Design

The levee lifts constructed thus far have been of semi-compacted haul, clay-fill founded on a sand bed. They include two layers of high strength geotextile for reinforcement. Sand was hydraulically pumped from borrow areas near the Mississippi River and clay borrow has been hauled from the Bonnet Carre Spillway. The net levee grade varies from elevation 13.0 N.G.V.D. on the western limits of the project to elevation 12.0 N.G.V.D. on the eastern end. It is expected that the levee construction will require four lifts which are scheduled over a 20 year period. Pre-lift soil borings have been conducted to ensure that the anticipated consolidation and settlement produce the gains in soil strengths necessary to accomplish upcoming lifts.

Description

The project consists of four phases of levee construction identified as Reaches 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B.

Reach 1A extends from Centerline Station 293+00.00 to Centerline Station 324+00.00, a total length of approximately 3,100 linear feet and is immediately west of the I-310 Interchange. The Pontchartrain Levee District acquired levee easements across approximately 49 acres of land to support construction. Reach 1A 1st and 2nd lifts have been fully constructed. The final design grade elevation of Reach 1A is 13.0 feet.

Reach 1B starts at the I-310 interchange and extends east from approximately Centerline Station 369+84.40 to Centerline Station 502+09.00, to the western right-of-way of the Illinois Central Railroad. The Pontchartrain Levee District acquired levee easements across approximately 126 acres of land to support construction. Reach 1B 1st lift has been constructed. The Corps of Engineers is currently preparing plans and specifications for construction of Reach 1B 2nd lift. The finished grade elevation of Reach 1B is 12 feet.

Reach 2A commences at the east guide levee of the Bonnet Carre Spillway and continues east, extending from approximately Centerline Station 2+80.00 to Centerline Station 140+00.00, a total length of about 13,720 linear feet. The Pontchartrain Levee District acquired levee easements across approximately 97 acres of land to support construction. Reach 2A 1st lift has been fully constructed. The Corps of Engineers is currently preparing plans and specifications for advertisement and award of Reach 2A 2nd lift. The final design grade elevation of Reach 2A is 13.0 feet.

Reach 2B commences at the eastern end of Reach 2A and extends from Centerline Station 163+07.48 to Centerline Station 293+05.56 (western limits of Reach 1A), a total length of 12, 998.18 linear feet. The Pontchartrain Levee District acquired levee easements across approximately 134 acres of land to support construction. Reach 2B 1st lift has been fully constructed. The Corps of Engineers has recently finalized the plans and specifications for advertisement and award of Reach 2B 2nd lift levee construction which is expected to be advertised in early May, 2006 with an award shortly thereafter. Construction duration is expected to be 8 months. The finished grade elevation of Reach 2B is 12.5 feet.

March 28, 2008

The Lake Pontchartrain Louisiana and Vicinity, Hurricane Protection Project was authorized by Public Law 298, 89th Congress, 1st Session, approved on October 27, 1965. The recommended design authorized standard hurricane protection (SPH) from a Category 3 hurricane. The plan covers approximately 9.5 miles of earthen levee, five gravity drainage structures, two swing gates, three access roads, and approximately 5,160 feet of floodwall.

The SCHPL is located in southeastern Louisiana, in St. Charles Parish on the east bank of the Mississippi River. The levee is oriented in an east-west direction and separates the developed areas in St. Charles Parish from the approximately 26,000 acres of wetlands on the north side of the levee, known as the “LaBranche Wetlands.” On its eastern end, the levee ties into the Jefferson/St. Charles Return Levee just south of the east-west runway extension, and at itswestern limits it ties into the east guide levee of the Bonnet Carré Spillway.

Status:

Under the 3rd Supplemental Appropriation, the Corps of Engineers (Corps) accelerated construction of the SCHPL. Prior to the appropriation, the majority of the levee sections were far below the authorized elevations and the schedule was seriously hindered by prior funding shortfalls.

In December, 2007 the Corps and the Pontchartrain Levee District conducted the final inspection of the Reach 2B 2nd lift which was constructed to the authorized level of 12.5 feet. Scour protection underneath the I-310 Interchange along with floodwall and structure tie-ins was also completed in December, 2007. Reinforcement and tie-ins at all drainage structures was completed in February, 2008.

Currently, the Corps is overseeing construction of the 2nd lift of Reaches 1A, 1B and 2A to the authorized elevations. The scheduled completion date is August, 2008; however, the contractor is currently ahead of schedule and it is anticipated that construction will be finalized prior to the 2008 hurricane season. Upon completion of this contract, the SCHPL will be constructed to the original federal authorized design.

Schedule:  Ongoing studies and investigations are currently being conducted by the Corps to address the 100-year protection which is to be constructed by 2011. This will result in a new project cooperative agreement between Pontchartrain Levee District, St. Charles Parish and the Corps with a new local share requirement that has yet to be determined. However, due to Corps credited amounts accumulated by Pontchartrain Levee District, we expect the financial impact of this new construction to be minimal to both the District and St. Charles Parish. A Project Description Document (PDD) is currently being prepared by the Corps for the Lake Pontchartrain, LA and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project, St. Charles Parish, 100% Year Protection and the schedule for completion of that document is estimated for June, 2008.

Funding History: The SCHPL is a cost-shared project between the Corps and the Pontchartrain Levee District (PLD) as the local sponsor. The Corps is responsible for 70% of project costs and the PLD is responsible for 30%.  Of the 30% local share, PLD receives 80% from St. Charles Parish. Additionally, the PLD receives some funding from the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development through the Statewide Flood Control Program. Early projections indicated that planning, engineering, design, land acquisitions, relocations, and construction would cost approximately $84 million. Presently, projections indicate that the cost will be approximately $91 million. This increase is a result of court awards stemming from project litigation.

Funding Requirements for FY 2009:

The Corps is currently preparing costs estimates as part of the PDD effort.