Gov. Edwards has joined local and state officials to cut the ribbon on a recently completed $30 million levee-enhancement project in Jefferson Parish.
This is first in a series of projects that will protect the greater Lafitte-Barataria-Crown Point community from tidal surge flooding and other extreme weather events.
The project includes 2.9 miles of concrete-capped steel sheet pile flood walls, earthen levees, and nine flood gates that have been elevated to 7.5 feet in Lafitte’s 453-acre Fisher School Basin.
“It’s a great day for the people of Lafitte as we cut the ribbon on this critical flood protection project,” said Gov. Edwards .
Nine more tidal protection projects are planned for the area, with the Rosethorne Basin project expected to be advertised for bid later this year.
In all, more than $300 million will be spent on the construction of flood protection features for 10 basins.
Together, they will form a flood risk-reduction system comprised of 29 miles of levees, flood walls, and gated structures surrounding more than eight square miles and protecting approximately 5,400 residents.