Cost to build levee project in Louisiana increases from $887 million to $12.9 billion

A recent report by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers re-evaluates the cost of construction of the 98-mile Morganza to the Gulf levee project in Terrebonne Parish to$12.9 billion according to the Advocate article ($10.3 billion according to the Times Picayune). The Morganza to the Gulf levee project planning started in 1992. The original construction estimate that was authorized by Congress in 2007 was only $887 million as reported by the Advocate.

Some of the increased costs are attributed to:

1. more-stringent levee building standards the corps adopted after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005;
2. the increase of the levee length from 72 miles to 98 miles;
3. the increase of the levee width from 200 ft to as much as 725 ft;
4. the replacement of single-panel I-walls with T-walls that are built on sheet piling and longer, diagonal “batter” piles.

The Army Corps still considers the project a “go” based on a benefits/cost analyses, but comments are requested by February 18.

Sources: More information can be found here and here. The Army Corps report on the project is available here.