Corps completes levee to protect Louisiana State Penitentiary

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed raising and strengthening the 12-mile levee protecting the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

Mississippi River protection for the prison's up to 5,100 inmates and 1,800 employees, many of whom live on the grounds with their families, was improved after a successful but difficult flood fight in the spring of 1997.

State officials dedicated the levee improvements in a late June ceremony. Total cost of the project was $25 million, shared 75 percent by the federal government and 25 percent by the state.

In the 1997 flood, the Mississippi River rose to 61.4 ft. at Red River Landing, the highest stage on record for that gauge, just across the river. The threat was so great that prison officials temporarily relocated about 3,000 inmates to higher ground.

"The flood dramatized the need for the project," said Col. Peter J. Rowan, district engineer, New Orleans District. "The construction work enjoyed outstanding cooperation from the Louisiana Dept. of Safety and Corrections.

"Engineer troops of the Louisiana National Guard performed a vital early task, and the contractors finished the job," Rowan said. Contractors were Regency Construction Inc. of Slidell and Merrick Construction Co. of Cottonport.

The most imminent flooding threat was under seepage, water traveling beneath but not through the levee. As a result, 105 sand boils - water bubbling to the surface - were reported on the protected side. The sand boils threatened to cause levee failure.

The Louisiana National Guard provided crucial emergency assistance by constructing berms, low earthen structures that extend landward, to neutralize the sand boils.

Congress appropriated money for design in 1997 and construction in 1998, the Corps and the Department of Corrections signed an agreement and the job was completed. The Corps raised the prison levee by about 5 ft. over the full 12 miles. The Corps used about 4.3 million cu. yds.

"For the Corps of Engineers, James Siffert of the New Orleans District was a valuable advisor during the flood fight. The Vicksburg District handled the design and awarded contracts for the main phase of work. And the New Orleans District supervised the construction, completed in June," said Robert Campos, the Corps' senior project manager for the levees project.

The Mississippi River's east bank surrounds the prison on three sides, immediately south of the state of Mississippi. It forms a "U" with the base to the west and its ends anchored to the surrounding Tunica Hills.

DOTD opens $46 million in recent bids

The Louisiana Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) considered bids totaling more than $46 million at its recent public bid opening.

With a bid of $13.78 million, Denton-James LLC of Baton Rouge was the apparent low bidder on the most expensive job, which involved grading, drainage, cold planing and related work on US 171 (a TIMED program segment) in Beauregard Parish from LA 110 in Longville northward approximately 4.9 miles.

Bond Commission approves $20.3 million for Baton Rouge area

The State Bond Commission approved $555 million recently in bond issues and loans for construction and improvements statewide and worked with local governments to save taxpayers $2.8 million by refinancing outstanding debt, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy.

"Every month, the Bond Commission approves loans for the continuation of services that citizens depend on day in and day out," said Treasurer Kennedy. "These proceeds often pay for things many of us take for granted like clean drinking water or law enforcement operations. Without the Bond Commission, many local governments would have no alternative but to eliminate basic services when money runs dry."

Some of the approved projects include:

• $1.1 million loan for the City of St. Gabriel to finance construction and improvements to wastewater collection and treatment facilities
  
• $2.2 million loan for West Feliciana Parish to fund current law enforcement operations
  
• $1.25 million in bonds for Pointe Coupee Parish for construction and improvements to its waterworks system

Reedrill teams up with Terex Telelect

Reedrill recently announced that Terex Telelect is a new distributor for Reedrill products. Under this new alliance agreement, Terex Utilities will sell drilling equipment, tools and parts, and offer service and support under one roof.

The Terex Utilities Distribution Network has more than 40 service centers across North America. Terex Utilities' goal is to provide customers with single source access to a variety of products and services to help improve their balance sheets, reduce their expenses and increase their productivity.

Gary Rice, North America sales manager for Reedrill, said, "We are excited about the new Reedrill - Terex Telelect team." The team, he said, will strive to provide quality service to the utility industry through its combination of products and support services.