[StBernard] Floodgate complex to protect N.O. and surrounding areas from storm surge

[Westley Annis]

Floodgate complex to protect N.O. and surrounding areas from storm surge

by WWL-TV / webteam at wwltv.com / @WWLTV

wwltv.com

Posted on January 31, 2012 at 7:29 AM

NEW ORLEANS - The Army Corps of Engineers is taking another step towards
protecting New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish from storm surges.

Tuesday morning, they installed a lift gate at the Seabrook Floodgate
Complex.

Eric Stricklin, the project manager, said this gate has "been a long time
coming" and explanied the importance of the gate.

The total cost of construction for the complex is $165 million.

The complex includes two 50 foot vertical gates and a 95 foot sector gate,
which will allow boats to travel through the canal again.

Officials said the protection also consists of a $7.5 billion, 120-mile
perimeter wall that is expected to reduce storm surge to protect metro New
Orleans, the Ninth Ward, New Orleans East, Gentilly and St. Bernard Parish.

The vertical gate is expected to be installed around 6:45 this morning