Official Newsletter from the Office of Congressman Garret Graves, LA-06
Greetings!

Thanks for signing up for our regular updates on the Comite Diversion Canal Project. The project is underway.

Construction is occurring all along the canal alignment at once -- and because it is made of several components, some parts progress faster than others.

Here's the latest:
Check out the progress on US Bridge Construction and Canal Excavation, and McHugh Rd. Bridge Construction and Canal Excavation to LA 19 and LA 67.
The Dirt
The nitty-gritty of the Comite Diversion Canal
Black = Previous Report
Red = New Report
CORPS PROJECTS
US 61 (COM 1)
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • April - 23.5% of the work is done on the combined US 61 + KCS project.
  • May - 32% of the work is done on the combined US 61 + KCS project.
  • June - 39% of the work is done on the combined US 61 + KCS project.
  • All traffic diverted to bypass road; all test shafts drilled and completed; testing is complete; length of piles determined; 6 have already been installed.
  • All vehicular bridge production shafts completed, installed
  • Channel excavation ongoing
  • 90,000 of 700,000 cubic yards have been excavated
  • Construction on platforms continues so contractor can begin working on constructing decks
  • Bridge girders are of being built off site; mobilizing to site in next 2 weeks.
  • Shafts for columns are already installed and excavation around the shafts are underway; should be complete June/July
  • Contractor is installing forms (for pilings) this week and next and tying up columns of rebar to create steel cages – Contractor will then pour concrete in the forms to establish the bridge columns.
  • Excavation just east of US 61 will occur Feb or March of 2022 (500 feet east of the bypass road)
  • Once bridges are complete, and traffic and train service are restored, bypass road will be removed and excavation there will be completed
NEW REPORT

  • August - 45% of the work is done on the combined US 61 + KCS project.
  • 30 total bridge columns (15 northbound, 15 southbound)
  • Bridge caps currently under construction
  • US 61 abutments - where north and south ends of bridge tie into land - construction underway
  • 150,000 cubic yards of the total 700,000 cubic yards of material has been excavated
KCS Railroad (COM 1)
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • Traffic diverted to shoo-fly; test shaft drills done last week; at lab to determine length of piles.
  • Contractor will drive piles at grade for all US61/KCS bridges; Once drilled excavation will begin around the bridges.
  • Kansas City Railroad Bridge production shafts
  • 2 recently completed
  • 2 will be completed next week
  • All support shafts installed for KCS Bridge
  • Continuing to excavate 500 feet around KCS bridge 
NEW REPORT

  • Shipping of KCS drill shafts is underway
  • Drill shafts will be used to build KCS bridge columns 
McHugh Road Bridge (COM 16)
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • 5 Feb – contract awarded
  • Construction begin next 4-6 weeks (mid-/end-April)
  • Process exactly like US 61: Drive piles at grade, then excavate 500’ each on east and west sides (1000’ total)
  • DEMCO poles have been relocated and will be energized June 17
  • Delay in DEMCO relocation caused construction contractor to reconfigure excavation and bridge plans
  • Contractor was not delayed, but with poles relocated, large equipment can move in for bridge work
  • This will allow drilling contractor to dill shafts for bridge
  • Contractor to be mobilized June 21 week to drill shafts
  • Channel work excavation around bridge location to occur at this time too (Late June/early July)
NEW REPORT

  • 12 total drill shafts have been installed
  • Shafts will be used to make bridge columns
  • Pouring columns week of August 9
  • 48,000 cubic yards of 235,000 cubic yards total have been excavated
Lilly Bayou Control Structure repair (COM 21)
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • LBCS has been idle for a decade
  • Addressing issues with the project to ensure structural integrity and performance
  • Inject grout; pressure washing; dewater the structure – inlet and the pool
  • Contractor expected to begin work the week of June 21
  • This is not a delay because no heavy equipment needs to be mobilized, and the timeline is not impacted by this work
  • Contractor will dewater the large control structure by opening the 36-inch line that connects canal to discharge basin
  • Will pressure wash the concrete structures
  • Using Ground penetrating radar, contractor will identify any subsurface voids and fill with concrete as necessary
  • Grout injection as necessary
  • Defoliate any shrub in rip rap
  • Any necessary reshaping
NEW REPORT

  • Contractor trailers set up at work site
  • Dewatering to occur week of August 9
  • Dewatering structure to elevation 8 feet (at the surface of the bottom)
  • At this level concrete slabs are exposed
  • At this elevation pressure washing will start
  • Herbicide and grout submittals under review – upon approval, contractor can remove scrub shrub and inject grout to fill any hoes under the subsurface
  • Two 12-inch pumps are in operation; dewatering 24/7
Channel Segment 4 – approximately between McHugh Rd. and LA 67 (COM 17)
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • Contract value ~$45 mm range
  • Base contact is $26 mm with option is additional $15 mm (option is another extension; when relocations wrap up they will exercise the option)
  • Contract duration + option duration estimated to be approximately 360 days
  • Channel excavation underway and ongoing
  • A “haul road” has been constructed to bring in riprap for White Bayou rock chute on north side of canal
  • 2 contractors
  • Contractor will begin excavation work
  • Riprap coming from Arkansas
  • 2 million cubic yards to be excavated
NEW REPORT

  • Final burn of cleared and grubbed materials done this week
  • 120,000 cubic yards of 2 million total cubic yards has been excavated to date
  • 16% complete, on schedule
White Bayou rock chute (COM 18)
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • DOTD is finalizing Authorization for Entry
  • Projecting an early-April contract award
  • Award on hold
  • Letter of No Objection required from Florida Gas
  • Expecting LONO this week
  • Once have it, move to contract award
  • Florida Gas utility on site; USACE needs permission from utility to proceed
  • Letter of No Objection was attempted again – issue with Florida Gas – haven’t come to terms in timely manner
  • USACE adapting to circumstances; will access site from south via Channel Segment 4 McHugh Rd. entry
  • Can have ingress and egress through this location
  • Authorization for Entry will be approved this week
  • USACE will develop new schedule based on adaptation
  • 25 May – anticipate awarding contract
  • Contract awarded 24 May
  • Preconstruction negotiations between Corps and contractor commenced 15 June
  • Contractor to mobilize in July
NEW REPORT

  • Clear and grub currently underway
  • Excavation begins first week of September
  • 6% compete no issues
Next contracts (pending authorization for entry)
  • All remaining contracts are scheduled to advertised October/November this year, provided a favorable and timely outcome of Florida Gas pipeline relocation

  • Channel segment 1 (COM 3) – channel excavation approximately between Baton Rouge Bayou and US 61
  • This segment has always been expected to be one of the last actions before diversion canal completion. Florida Gas outcome also affecting overall timeline, but not as much with this segment.
  • Also addressing residential gas access for nearby homeowners.
  • On schedule to be advertised in mid-September.
 
  • Channel segment 2a (COM 5) – channel excavation approximately between LA 19 and LA 964
  • USACE finalizing BCOES and design
  • “BCOES”: Corps checklist referring to biddability, constructability, operability, and environmental analysis
  • TBD – projected award date pending outstanding real estate acquisition. DOTD/USACE exercising alternative measures to acquire property.
  • 25 June – advertise bid (was to be advertised by mid-June but has been pushed slightly in order to accommodate additional stockpile area requested by DOTD for LA 964 contract.
  • Assume 30 days to advertise, 30 days to review and award bids, weeks to negotiate contract, and 30 days to mobilize – Contractor expected to be in the filed doing work in September
  • Advertised 29 June for 60 days
  • Bid opening 30 August
  • Still need Right of Entry (ROE) to be secured by DOTD
  • Farmer had to get animals and equipment off site
  • ROE expected week from DOTD of August 9
  • Received bids, Move to awards (see above, last month’s report)
 
  • Channel segment 3 (COM 7/COM 15) – channel excavation approximately between McHugh Rd. and LA 19
  • Lack of Florida Gas agreement threatens delay
  • This segment impacted by Florida Gas relocation
 
  • Cypress Bayou Rock Chute (COM 6)
  • Late June – award contract (reported on the call as “Cypress Bayou/Channel Segment 1”?)
  • This represents a 1-month lag due to BCOES issues
  • Now on track to be advertised in July. Utility relocation (Shell/Begal) was cause of delay
  • Currently nearing BCOES certification.
  • On schedule to be advertised in early September.
  • This represents a 3-month delay.

  • Channel segment 2b (COM 20) – channel excavation approximately between LA 19 and LA 964
  • Scheduled bid advertisement date is August
  • Encountering delays at this location
  • Assistance needed with utility relocations at this footprint
  • Need CRA agreements with utilizes
  • This will help us understand when contract can be awarded
  • Reach out to companies and get us an update
  • This segment impacted by Florida Gas relocation
 
  • Diversion Structure (COM 19) – construction of the diversion structure at Comite River.

  • Diversion Structure (COM 11) – clear & grub area of the diversion structure
  • Slab is 12 feet thick at Lilly Bayou
  • Considering making diversion structure slab thinner (not thin; thinner)
  • Should have answer this week (week of May 10)
  • Contract award pending this decision
  • September – estimated award for construction
  • No additional right of way/real estate needed
  • October – estimated advertisement of bids
  • These contracts are impacted by Florida Gas relocation and LA 67 construction progress
  • Construction of diversion structure – Originally designed to be 12-foot slab; now redesigned to be 5 feet thick with multiple pilings
 
  • October – Com 2 (Brooks Lake closure structure or alternate feature)
  • H&H modeling ongoing to construct new channel to contain project flows within bank, alleviating need to construct Brooks Lake feature and additional flowage easement
  • Modeling complete
  • Project options were reviewed. Corps project managers will recommend to leadership to purchase easements; no structure construction to be recommended. Will result in cost savings.
 
  • October – Com 12 (clear & snag Baton Rouge Bayou, White Bayou, Cypress Bayou)
  • Will be last order of work in overall project. Complete channel excavation and connection necessary to accommodate new flow into the canal.
  • No update.
DOTD Construction Management At-Risk Contracts
LA 964 – plans complete; Let contract in May 2021
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • LA 964 bridge – designs are 100% complete
  • Let project in May 2021
  • Mobilize 90 days after letting
  • Construction begins 90 days after letting
  • June 2022 – projected completion of bridge construction
  • 26 May – projected contract letting
  • Letting could slip to June or later unless Florida Gas encapsulation resolved
  • Florida Gas is the only obstacle
  • DOTD needs Florida Gas agreement by 5/21
  • Florida Gas engineer out of town this week (May 10); attorneys don’t want to meet without engineer
  • DOTD believes they will have to pull current advertisement and advertise again in June.
  • Advertisement had to be pulled due to ongoing relocation issues with Florida Gas
  • Will resume when Florida Gas issue resolved
NEW REPORT

  • Project will be advertised once Florida Gas negotiations are complete
  • Trying to complete Florida Gas negotiations week of August 9
  • Trying to let project in September
LA 67
Designs 100% complete; est. construction to start in May 2021 [sic. See below]
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • Boh Brothers – contractor
  • Provided contract execution proceeds without a hitch, construction could start in May
  • Projected to execute by the end of the Month or beginning of May so contractor can start construction in May 2021.
  • No issues with Florida Gas
  • Contractor is mobilizing during assembly period, which will likely happen for the test piles
  • Contractor has 60 days (until mid-July) to assemble
  • Plans/designs complete
  • Finalize contract on LA 67 this week
  • The contract was on hold briefly due waiting on Florida Gas to respond on whether their lines were protected within the right of way under LA 67. DOTD did finally receive notice from Florida Gas and are finalizing the construction contract within DOTD’s legal department now and plan to send to contractor the week of 6/21 and be able to execute shortly. They will be ready to get to work after execution.
NEW REPORT

  • Contract value is approximately $11 million
  • Construction contract to be executed by mid-August
LA 19 – designs 90% complete
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • Final contract negotiations underway now
  • Florida Gas is impacting this project too
  • Meeting on June 14 afternoon to discuss with contractor the what activities can be done while waiting on Florida Gas
  • A lot of construction work can occur while waiting on relocation settlement with Florida Gas.
  • There are several construction tasks that can occur while DOTD negotiates Florida Gas’ relocation. They are now preparing the early work packages to be done. The 100% final plans were submitted today but DOTD will work to pull out the tasks that they can perform now. 
NEW REPORT

  • Contract value is approximately $20 million
  • Florida Gas issues at this site are resolved.
  • Construction contract to be executed by mid-August
MISCELLANEOUS
  • Overall completion date at end of 2022 – Corps is on schedule based on new timeline
  • Majority of all Corps contracts will be awarded Summer of 2021
  • All contracts will be awarded by end of calendar year 2021
DOTD Real Estate
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • 84 parcels required
  • 79 parcels acquired
  • 3 in negotiations (expect all to close by end of June)
  • 1 in closing (17 of the 18 owners have agreed; Judge will appoint curator to resolve remaining owner)
  • 1 needs appraisal
NEW REPORT

  • 83 parcels acquired
  • 1 in negotiations (no hold ups. Offer made July 22; 30 days to respond; expecting offer imminently)
  • Acquired some economic remnants (parcels not needed for actual canal but had to be acquired in real estate acquisition)
  • All property to be handed over to East Baton Rouge Parish 
DOTD Utilities
PREVIOUS REPORT

  • 61 relocation actions at 12 locations
  • 60 relos proceeding at various stages (compensability negotiations, designs, active/completed relocation)
  • 1 relo – outstanding issues appear to be resolved; proceeding with agreement to relo
  • Cong. Graves, Gov. Edwards, outside counsel in discussions to resolve concerns
  • Florida Gas relocation is the largest single factor impacting progress on the canal construction
  • It impacts affects:
  • LA 19 bridge construction and excavation
  • Channel Segment 3 (between McHugh Rd. and LA 19) – pipeline is diagonal to the canal alignment
  • West of Lilly Bayou (adjacent to US 61) – not really a factor until US 61 construction is complete
  • LA 964 bridge construction and excavation
NEW REPORT

  • Much progress has been made with Florida Gas
  • Negotiating cost estimates for relocations; looking for ways to reduce costs
  • Close to completing relocation agreement for LA 964 project
  • This agreement will be the model for other remaining Florida Gas relocation agreements
Amite River Basin Commission
NEW REPORT

  • Homes on East Irene will be disconnected from their current provide Zachary Gas because canal will sever lines to these customers
  • ARBC has offered to purchase propane gas service for 9 home that want this service
  • Will need to replace some appliances and connections
Sincerely,
Garret Graves
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