October 18, 2010 (via www.stpgov.org )
South Slidell Levee Protection Update
Phase One of the St. Tammany Parish South Slidell Levee Protection Plan is
under construction to establish a network of protective levees in the
south Slidell area. This phase of the plan will raise an existing berm
from approximately 6 feet of elevation to 12 feet of elevation. The
berm will be an earthen, grass covered structure.
The location of Phase One is between Hwy 11 and the railroad tracks of the
Norfolk Southern Pacific Railway. This part of the overall project is
approximately 2000 feet long. The project as a whole is designed to
provide south Slidell with much improved flood protection.
The improvements to the existing levee in this area will reduce storm surge for
3,000 to 4,000 surrounding homes. While not providing protection against
a Category 5 hurricane, it will lessen tidal surge for a minor to moderate
storm (a 50 year frequency event). When other phases of the project are
completed, the intent is to provide 100 year event surge protection to the
south Slidell area.
“I am very pleased to begin Phase One of this project,” said Parish President
Kevin Davis. “With this first phase providing storm surge protection to
4,000 homes, this is a good start to what will eventually be a comprehensive
protection package for much of this area of our parish.”
The construction contract length for Phase One is 110 good weather days, and
the total construction contract is for $596,206.22. Funding for this
phase came from St. Tammany Parish Capital Outlay funds, the State of
Louisiana, and the City of Slidell.
The funding for Phase One is as follows: Act 19 Line Item Appropriation
was funded in 2008 and administered by the LA Treasury. It was for
$118,750. $113,300 of these funds went to land acquisition and $5,450
went to appraisals and surveys. The City of Slidell provided a donation
of $600,000. $277,706 will be used toward construction of Phase 1.
Capital Outlay funds already in place (for the west side of I-10) will pay for
$318,500 of the construction cost. St. Tammany Parish provided $403,820
in drainage funds towards the purchase price of the land.
South Slidell Levee Protection Expenditures and Funding
Breakdown
Appraisals and Surveys
$ 5,450.00
Wetlands
Mitigation
$ 46,150.00
Land acquisition
$ 517,120.00
Geotechnical Analysis (Stratum
Engineering)
$ 7,000.00
Independent Technical Review of Engineering Plans (JV
Burkes)
$ 1,200.00
Construction Management (JV Burkes)
$ 24,500.00
Construction Contract (Leon Lowe and Sons, Inc)
$ 596,206.22
2% fee to
FP&C
$ 6,500.00
Total expenditures and contracts to date
$ 1,204,126.22