(R) Congressman Garret Graves - District 6
An agreement to begin construction on a $760 million flood protection project estimated to benefit more than 60,000 people in the river parish region has been signed. Congressman Garret Graves says the west shore of Lake Pontchartrain project will consist of 18.5 miles of earthen levees and floodwalls.
“This project is absolutely critical to St John Parish, areas of St. Charles, and St. James Parish as we have seen repetitive flooding in the last several years.”
Communities on the west shore of Lake Pontchartrain saw extensive flooding during Hurricane Isaac in 2012. Graves says it’s estimated this massive flood control project can reduce annual damages from flooding by 865-million dollars over the next 50 years…
“Put a flood barrier, it is largely going to build a levee adjacent to I-10 in the vicinity of Laplace going through and helping to keep water in the lakes where we want it, and keeping it out of our homes and businesses and off the interstate.”
Graves says for 45 years the state has been attempting to gain the funding for the project and says construction should begin later this year.
“We were finally able to not just get the first dollar but to get every single dollar so this project can move forward so I am really excited to see progress being made here.”
