[StBernard] Corps races deadline for hurricane protection

[Westley Annis]

Corps races deadline for hurricane protection
	 Reported by: John Snell, Anchor 
Email: jsnell at fox8tv.net 
Reported by: Paul Rodgers, Photographer 
Last Update: 4/26 11:31 pm
 
Chalmette-- In St. Bernard Parish, the dominant feature on the skyline is
the dozens of cranes towering over 23 miles of new flood wall.

An astonishing amount of work is underway as the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers races the clock.

"We're shattering all previous civil works records for delivering something
of this magnitude," said Col. Robert Sinkler, who is overseeing work on many
of the new system's most important and massive features.

Over the last several days, crews installed the sector gates where the
system ties into the Mississippi River at the St. Bernard-Plaquemines Parish
line.

In New Orleans, the last major feature of the entire system was a little
late out of the starting gate.

However, later this week, crews will de-water the Industrial Canal at the
Seabrook Bridge to build a system of three gates.

"The coffer dam is designed to be de-watered so the contractor can work in
the dry," said Ed Stricklin, the project manager.

Although the scope of the project is dramatic, the unwatering will be more
like watching a swimming pool drain over the course of 20 hours.

Parts of the overall system, such as the Seabrook Bridge gate, will still be
under construction when the June 1 deadline arrives

However, the Corps insists even if the final pieces aren't entirely
finished, it will live up to the promise for 100 year storm protection.

"We're going to have 100 year storm risk reduction achieved by June 1,"
Stricklin said.