Rich Varuso of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers illustrates the area around the levee that will must cleared of trees. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
A map of the levee-raising project shows the construction zone near the railroad tracks, well away from some of the park’s most popular recreational amenities.
The ballfields and gazebos at Audubon’s riverfront recreation area and even the trees that hang over the Mississippi River will all remain undisturbed and accessible during the year-long project to raise the Carrollton levee, officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assured residents Thursday night, and although the “unofficial” dog park nearby will be closed off during construction, it may emerge as an official dog park after the project.
For about a year starting in November, the federal project will raise the levee by about two feet for the two-mile stretch from the Jefferson Parish line at Eagle Street down to the southern vehicle exit at the park known as The Fly, the engineers said. The construction area, however, will be right around the levee itself, which runs along the railroad track at the park, far enough away that it will not affect many of the most-used amenities there.
“We are not shutting down the Fly for any amount of time,” said project manager Nick Sims. “The only thing that will be restricted is the access.”
The bike path along the levee will be restricted during the project, but will be fully restored afterward, officials said. The unofficial dog park will be closed off, but City Councilwoman Susan Guidry praised a suggestion by 123 Walnut Condo Association president Jack Davis to explore keeping the fence after construction ends to create an official dog park at the location (which dovetails with planning already underway for dog parks around the city). Traffic at the entrance and exit to the Fly will have to be routed around construction workers, but someone will be posted whenever the park is open to direct traffic, the engineers said.
All the trees within 15 feet of the levee must be cleared because of federal regulations, but the engineers said there are only a few areas where significant tree clearing will occur — particularly right around Bisso Marine, they said. Even so, the tree-clearing plan drew some of the most outspoken opposition.
To read our live coverage of the entire question-and-answer session, see the box below.
Durund Elzey of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (right) discusses a map showing the route contractors will use to bring material for the levee-raising project. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)
Residents also expressed concern about the condition of Leake Avenue, along which engineers said about five trucks per day will bring material for the levee construction. If the road is damaged, the Corps and the city will evaluate what repairs need to be made, the engineers said — a promise well short of the guaranteed fund for repairs several residents requested.
The levee will not be raised right around the actual Corps headquarters — plans call for a floodwall whenever the funding becomes available — leading some residents to ask if that meant they were at greater risk because of the gap. The engineers said they have developed a flood-flight plan to protect the area, but could not say when the wall will be built.
Finally, a number of residents asked that the engineers consider breaking the year-long project into small segments, to keep construction at a minimum in each specific location. That decision is ultimately up to the contract, the engineers replied, but promised to bring it up as the project begins.
