For Montz residents concerned about recurring stormwater issues, construction has begun on the town’s first permanent pump stations, a project officials say will provide long-term drainage relief for nearby homes and businesses. The twin Montz Pump Station No. 1 and No. 2 are now under construction, and traffic patterns along CC Road have been adjusted to accommodate heavy equipment. For a community familiar with seasonal flooding, the project represents a significant step toward more reliable flood protection.
Two Stations Will Multiply Pumping Capacity
According to St. Charles Parish, the two new pump stations will provide a combined capacity of 607 cubic feet per second, about 3.5 times Montz’s current pumping capability. The stations will include nine pumps with automatic bar screen cleaners, 36-inch discharge lines, and on-site sump storage. SCADA controls and diesel generators are also part of the design, allowing the pumps to operate during power outages, the parish says.
A Facebook reel posted Friday by St. Charles Parish shows crews driving piles and staging equipment at the Montz site, highlighting that construction is underway and focused on protecting nearby homes and neighborhoods.
Funding, Contracts and Schedule
The parish says the combined project represents an estimated $32.36 million investment, including $10 million from the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, with the remaining funds provided locally and approved by the parish council. GIS Engineering designed the stations, and Sealevel Construction was selected as the low bidder for the build.
Since both stations are located next to CC Road, parish officials have implemented a months-long full closure at the KCS railroad crossing to accommodate sheet pile driving and other heavy work, with detours and signage for local traffic, as repported by the St. Charles Herald-Guide. The Herald-Guide also reports that Montz Pump Station No. 1 is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, with Pump Station No. 2 expected in early 2027.
What Residents Should Expect
Francesca Blanchard, a parish spokesperson, told the St. Charles Herald-Guide that the two stations will represent the largest drainage investment in Montz’s history and will be integrated into the East Bank West Shore Hurricane Protection Levee System. The system is designed to protect over 800 homes, 25 industrial facilities, an electrical power plant, a church, and a fire station. Once fully operational, the new stations will replace the interim hydraulic pump on the Prescott Canal, the parish says.
Residents are being encouraged to monitor parish communications for traffic updates and construction notices. A timeline of previous detours in Montz and Destrehan offers additional context on how long road closures have been affecting local commutes.
