Contractors Prepare to Set Gates to Close New Orleans Storm Surge Barrier
Sector gates are part of a $1.3-billion barrier being built to reduce risk of hurricane storm surge entering New Orleans� vulnerable, eastern side.
Image courtesy USACE
The sector gate is the last component to seal up the 1.8-mile long, +26 ft. elevation Inner Harbor Navigation Canal-Lake Borgne Storm Surge barrier, which will reduce the risk of storm surge on New Orleans� eastern flank.
By Angelle Bergeron
A joint venture of TetraTech INCA, Metairie, La. and Ben C. Gerwick, Oakland, Cal. designed the gate and supporting structure with a 20-ft-wide ring wall that will help the gate withstand tremendous storm surge loads.
Courtesy USACE
The sector gate will provide 150 ft.-wide navigable passage. It is flanked by land-based floodwalls on the north and the barge gate, 150-ft. wide navigable opening on the south. The vertical lift gate seen in the distance provides a 56-ft wide opening for recreational craft where the barrier crosses Bayou Bienvenue.
By Angelle Bergeron
April 21, the contractor was placing the last lifts on the thrust gates, ringwalls and abutments in preparation for the gate placement.
By Angelle Bergeron
The sector gate is situated at the northern end of the IHNC Surge Barrier, where it crosses the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
Map courtesy USACE
Shaw’s Haser says that remaining work on the IHNC surge barrier includes, but is not limited to: placement of scour protection at various locations; installation of mechanical, and electrical controls for the sector gates and barge gate; construction of approach walls; tower and bridge fabrication and erection at the Bayou Bienvenue gate; and mechanical, electrical and control systems at Bayou Bienvenue.
All three gates in the barrier are expected to be operational by this hurricane season, but will not be complete until 2012.
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