Construction is underway on the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Protection Project which will provide 100-year hurricane and storm surge protection to 60,000 residents in St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist Parishes. Governor John Bel Edwards says construction is expected to be completed in 2024.
“When the hurricanes of tomorrow come this way, current and future generations in our River Parishes are going to be better protected,” said Edwards.
In 2012, Hurricane Isaac flooded seven thousand homes in this area. Congress authorized the project in 2016 and allocated the funds two years later. Edwards says the 760-million dollar flood control project will span 18.5 miles.
“Including 17.5 miles of levees, one mile of T-wall, there will be multiple pump stations, utility relocations and the goal here is to be able to handle a 100-year storm event,” said Edwards.
Congressman Garret Graves led the effort in Congress to get the funding approved. Graves says the River Parishes will finally get the flood protection they deserve.
“We can greatest businesses, we can have the greatest schools, we can have jobs coming out of our ears, we can have the best roads in the country, if it’s underwater, it’s useless,” said Graves.
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