Cape Girardeau floodwall ceremony canceled today

The ceremony that was scheduled for today to recognize the partnership agreement between the City of Cape Girardeau and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been canceled due to poor weather conditions.

The city and the Corps of Engineers will begin phase one of a project to rebuild the city’s Floodwall Protection System this month.  

Under a contract awarded in September to Keith C. Contracting, LLC, of Columbia, Mo., for $3,499,990.13, large rock will be placed to support an existing retaining wall on the river side of the city’s floodwall.  This will shore up the retaining wall that supports the floodwall.  This first phase work should be completed by mid 2009.

Other work to begin soon includes pump repairs to the Merriwether Pump Station.  Part of this work is included in the overall floodwall system reconstruction work.  However, actual repairs to two pumps are being funded under a federal program to repair storm and flood damage, which occurred to the pumps during September’s flooding.

The City of Cape Girardeau assumed responsibility for the system in September from longtime sponsors, the Main Street Levee District and the North Main Street Levee District.  A September agreement between the city and the Corps of Engineers was the central element allowing this work to proceed. 

Future phases of the work that will restore the floodwall protection system to its design level of protection will include repairs to the floodwall structure and additional work at the Merriwether and Mill Street pump stations.