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Louisiana Governor and Congressman Announce Funding for Southern University Ravine Protection Project
BATON ROUGE, LA — Governor John Bel Edwards, along with Congressman Troy Carter, announces funding for the Southern University Ravine Protection project in East Baton Rouge Parish. Through a grant awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will receive $7.6 million allocated towards this $35-million erosion improvement project to preserve Southern University's ravine.
This project will construct permanent erosion control measures to stabilize the ravine, which is the outfall to an approximate 852-acre watershed of Bayou Baton Rouge along the Mississippi River. This project will consist of addressing the retaining wall at the ROTC complex, tying in the emergency work at the Health Services Center, installing a weir system to control river flow, improving erosion mitigation through channel alignment modifications, and covering the entire ravine from F Street to the new weir system with block matting.
“DOTD and the Edwards administration have proven we can get results when provided the proper resources,” DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. said. “I would like to thank Congressman Carter for doing all he can to provide those resources. Today is a perfect example of state and federal officials working together to solve problems and make a positive impact on the community.”
In a continued effort to combat the erosion issues along this ravine, DOTD spent $9 million in 2019 to construct permanent erosion control and improve drainage at the F and H Street crossings. In 2021, through an emergency declaration by Gov. Edwards, DOTD expended $3 million for an emergency repair project, which is currently under construction.
Preconstruction began in September 2021, and full construction is expected to begin in fall 2024 and last for approximately two years.
Construction News ProjectsThis project will construct permanent erosion control measures to stabilize the ravine, which is the outfall to an approximate 852-acre watershed of Bayou Baton Rouge along the Mississippi River. This project will consist of addressing the retaining wall at the ROTC complex, tying in the emergency work at the Health Services Center, installing a weir system to control river flow, improving erosion mitigation through channel alignment modifications, and covering the entire ravine from F Street to the new weir system with block matting.
“DOTD and the Edwards administration have proven we can get results when provided the proper resources,” DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. said. “I would like to thank Congressman Carter for doing all he can to provide those resources. Today is a perfect example of state and federal officials working together to solve problems and make a positive impact on the community.”
In a continued effort to combat the erosion issues along this ravine, DOTD spent $9 million in 2019 to construct permanent erosion control and improve drainage at the F and H Street crossings. In 2021, through an emergency declaration by Gov. Edwards, DOTD expended $3 million for an emergency repair project, which is currently under construction.
Preconstruction began in September 2021, and full construction is expected to begin in fall 2024 and last for approximately two years.
