January 29, 2021 By Frank McCormack
In the final days of the Trump administration, residents of southeast Louisiana received a parting gift from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the form of “new start” money for a $3 billion levee project called “Morganza-to-the-Gulf.”
“Today we received confirmation that the Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane Protection project will receive $12.46 million in New Start construction funding,” Chip Kline, chairman of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority (CPRA), said in a statement January 19. “This marks the first time the federal government has appropriated funds through a Corps of Engineers Work Plan toward this critically important project. To date, state and local governments have invested more than $600 million toward this levee system.”
Construction underway on Bayou Chene floodgate
Courtesy of Tim Matte
and last updated 2021-01-28 11:09:26-05
Construction is well underway on a permanent floodgate on Bayou Chene below Morgan City.
District 21 State Senator Bret Allain (R-Franklin), a longtime proponent and advocate for the project, tells us he s pleased to see the progress that has been made thus far.
âI am thrilled to see this project coming to life,â Allain said. âFor decades, we have fought to provide protection for the residents and businesses of six parishes. It was a long road, but we are finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.â
Corps gets $12M, could pay $2.1B for hurricane protection
KATC - MGN ONLINE
and last updated 2021-01-19 21:10:15-05
NEW ORLEANS (AP) â The Army Corps of Engineers is getting nearly $12.5 million to help build a Louisiana hurricane protection system and could pay $2.1 billion of the expected cost, officials said.
Three Republicans in Louisianaâs congressional delegation announced approval of the construction money â U.S. Sen. John Kennedy last week and U.S. House Whip Steve Scalise and Rep. Garrett Graves on Tuesday.
âAfter years of facing bureaucratic red tape, this vital hurricane and storm surge protection project will receive federal funding to help build upon the local investments in the project,â Scalise said in a news release with Graves.
Kennedy announces Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Project to receive New Start Funding
January 17, 2021
On Friday, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) received confirmation from the White House that the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Project will receive New Start Construction funding with approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
“The people of south Louisiana have worked hard to make the Morganza to the Gulf Project a reality for 13 years. It’s both smart and fair for the federal government to step up and help them complete this crucial hurricane protection initiative. I’m thankful to the White House and the Trump Administration for recognizing the value of safeguarding lives and property in Terrebonne Parish and surrounding areas. I’m also grateful to the Corps of Engineers for the time and talent they’re investing into Morganza to the Gulf,” said Kennedy.
Mon December 21, 2020 - Southeast Edition
CEG
The Houma Navigational Canal Project is advancing to construction using an alternative financing plan.
Louisiana officials have announced that construction on a $366 million flood protection project will begin using an alternative financing plan approved by the state legislature earlier this year.
The
Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) said Dec. 9 that the plan will be used for the flood-protection lock project in the
Houma Navigation Canal (HNC). It will allow the agency to incur debt or issue bonds to pay for projects. The lock will play a critical role in Terrebonne Parish s hurricane protection system.