Get the latest news and updates from the January 2017 Linkwood News newsletter, including the impact of our S.E.A.L. Security services and the importance of paying our civic club dues.

Submitted by John Nienhuser

Project Brays is the most expensive flood control project undertaken by the Corps of Engineers. The $458-million-dollar project includes several detention ponds and the widening of the channel to provide a 31% increase in the bayou’s capacity to carry water to the ship channel.

As you are aware, the phase from Bertner in the medical center to Bevlyn is being worked on, and many have wondered when the remaining sections will be done. Timing has been controlled by federal funding, with each segment being delayed until federal money was allocated for the next segment. The good news is that the last financial bill passed included money to complete channel work that is planned. It is in two segments. The first will start where the current project ends and move westward to either Rice or as far as Chimney Rock. It is scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2017. The final segment to widen the channel on to Fondren is scheduled to start in the 3rd quarter of 2018.

For Project Brays to be 100% effective, several bridges will have to be replaced or modified to allow better flow of water. Contractors have been named for bridges at Buffalo Speedway, Stella Link, and Greenbriar. The Buffalo Speedway bridge is tentatively scheduled to start in 2018, the Stella Link bridge in 2019, and the Greenbriar bridge will follow that.