Lock project halted by excessive bids

Installation of a lock at the Leon Theriot floodgates south of Golden Meadow is likely to be delayed because the projected cost of installation is running much higher than originally anticipated.

Officials at the South Lafourche Levee District acknowledged at the district’s board meeting this week that initial bids for installation of the completed concrete structure and gates is between $10 and $15 million.

An initial projection of $5 million for installation was projected for the project. Some $7.5 million, a compilation of funding from the levee district, Lafourche Parish Council, Greater Lafourche Port Commission and the state had been expected to cover the installation costs.

“We’re in a holding pattern until we find more funding for the project,” said Windell Curole, general manager of the levee district. We have budgeted all we can for it. Our remaining monies must be used for flood protection.”

Curole explained that the one-cent sales tax will be used to improve the levees. “The recently passed sales tax will be used for levee improvements, not the lock,” said Curole who also noted that flood protection is the district’s primary responsibility.

The district planned to initially install the lock, which will be placed just north of the Leon Theriot floodgates below Golden Meadow, in the spring of this year.

However, the creation of a necessary bypass channel to allow vessel traffic to continue in Bayou Lafourche delayed the installation until this winter in order to avoid construction during hurricane season.

The delay in the lock installation likely means mariners will face at least one more hurricane season where vessels may get lock out of the system due to the closure of the floodgates because of high tides.

“We’re going to keep looking everywhere for money to install the lock,” Curole said, “but levee improvements are our first priority.”