Katrina 17th Street Outfall Canal Repairs

New Orleans , LA

LH&J was the prime engineering consultant to the Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District for perhaps the most important and pressing assignment ever for the firm. 

Emergency, Temporary & Permanent Repairs: 17th Street and London Ave. Canals. LH&J provided engineering services initially the day after the breaches in connection with closing the breaches at the 17th Street Canal and London Avenue Canals.  Emergency elevated earthen roadways were built on the deeply flooded New Orleans side to gain access to London Avenue.  Emergency sheetpiles were driven off the Old Hammond Highway Bridge and Leon C. Simon Bridge to cut the water off for fill operations and provide hurricane surge protection which a month later successfully prevented flooding from Hurricane Rita.  Later, long sheetpile walls, also designed by LH&J for the 17th Street Canal were driven around the breach.  A "T" walls designed by the firm was constructed at the breach. 

Interim Closure Structure and Pumping Station at the 17th Street Canal.  This project included probably unprecedented partnering efforts on the part of USACE, LH&J and construction contractors working side by side to successfully expedite project planning, design and construction processes from years to weeks.  USACE, LH&J and others met in a group many times in connection with planning, design and construction.  The remaining canal floodwalls were evaluated.  It was concluded that a closure structure would be required.  Planning and design of the Closure Structure was begun in November, 2005 and the $100,000,000+ structure was essentially completed in June, 2006.  Pump Station Planning and design began in January, 2006 and substantial pumping capacity was in place by August, 2006, with additional capacity coming on line weekly.  Twelve 60-inch drainage pumps were originally installed.  Additional pumps are being added in phases to bring the total capacity to approximately 8,000 cfs.

Construction Management Services:  Because this project was so critical to the safety of property and lives in the Cities of New Orleans and Metairie, USACE New Orleans District made substantial changes in the Construction Management of this project to ensure timely completion for the 2006 hurricane season.  LH&J took on new CM functions to expedite the construction process.  For many functions LH&J was inserted between the COE and the Contractor.  Shop drawings and other submittals went directly between LH&J and the contractor.  LH&J and the contractor conducted many pre-submittal discussions to ensure that the submittal itself would fly through the process.

The firm was awarded Task Force Guardian commendations for "outstanding" services provided for the Hurricane Katrina 17th Street Canal Rehabilitation Project.