Levee district seeks bids on H-2 reach near Chauvin

The Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District made a push to make 2010 it’s most productive year yet last week. A 3.5-mile stretch of levee in lower Chauvin known as reach H-2 was put up for bids, and several projects were approved for the final design phase.

“Once this gets under way, we’ll have 10 miles of the total Morganza system that will be started, finally,” said Reggie Dupre, executive director of the levee district. Construction on the project is expected to begin in February or March.

Floodgate structures at Bush Canal, Placid Canal and Bayou Grand Caillou were moved into the final design phase. Reach F, which covers most of Dulac, was also pushed into the final design phase.

According to levee district President Anthony Alford, once a project reaches the final design phase, it takes two to four months to go to construction. Reach F, including the Bayou Grand Caillou floodgate, have yet to be permitted, which may hold them off until later next year.

“We just pulled the trigger on a whole lot of different projects that are very important to the Morganza system,” said Alford.

A barge floodgate on the Houma Navigation Canal had to be put off until January, which the state is still reviewing. Alford, however, said that the state has 30 days to review the project for environmental concerns, at which point he expects the project to also be moved into the final design phase.

“Once we get these reaches and floodgates put on the ground, it’s going to really help our system,” said Alford.

The recent economic downturn has actually turned into something of a boon for the levee district, said Dupre.

“There seems to be more contractors interested and submitting bids. Contractors want to keep their employees employed,” he said. “If you have money available to build, the timing has never has been better. It’s a buyers market right now.”

The levee district also passed concurring resolutions with the parish council in an effort to restart the design process for the lock complex at the Houma Navigation Canal and the federal portion of the Morganza project. The HNC lock is viewed as a structure that’s greatly beneficial to hurricane protection and environmental conservation, but is estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Parish President Michel Claudet will also be going to Baton Rouge next month to lobby for Community Development Block Grants to elevate roads, which will help hurricane protection.

The funds would be used to raise Falgout Canal and Bayou Salle roads to 10 feet of elevation, which is the same height as the levees in the interim Morganza system.

“That’s a way, while we’re moving forward with Morganza, to get a quick fix. So, we’re exploring that,” said Alford.