St. Charles Parish is on the brink of a significant infrastructure upgrade, with officials embarking on a new project that promises a considerable enhancement of flood protection for the Montz community. As announced on the St. Charles Parish official website, a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Friday, August 22, at 9:30 a.m. to celebrate the start of construction on Montz's first-ever permanent pump stations.
The project consists of two stations, an endeavor set to multiply the current pumping capacity by 3.5 times compared to the provisional setup with the interim hydraulic pump on the Prescott Canal, this will serve as a testament to resilience for more than 800 homes, numerous industrial structures including an electrical power plant, and vital facilities such as a church and a fire station, according to the St. Charles Parish.
Funding for this colossal effort reaches over $32 million, with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board chipping in $10 million for Montz Pump Station No. 1 through an Intergovernmental Agreement, a concrete gesture towards stabilizing the human bulwarks against the forces of nature. The design work for the stations is credited to GIS Engineering, LLC, while Sealevel Construction, Inc. has won the contract to bring these designs to life, as reported by the St. Charles Parish. Parish President Jewell, along with other Parish Council Members and officials, will join the community at Montz Park (100 Calcagno Street) for a groundbreaking ceremony, marking a new step in protecting and restoring Montz.
