Plans for Lebanon Junction levee repair move ahead as partnership identifies funds

Published Feb. 5, 2011

LOUISVILLE, KY. -- Thanks to a local, state and federal partnership, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will soon begin needed remediation and repairs on the Lebanon Junction levee, Rolling Fork River, Ky.
Work to repair the levee involves sliplining an existing pipe that runs through the levee, removing another pipe and placing back properly compacted clay.
 
Coordination between The Commonwealth of Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG) and the Corps is moving the rehabilitation forward. The Department for Local Government (DLG) provided the cost share necessary to get the repairs in motion and to the construction stage.

“Keeping Kentucky infrastructure safe and up-to-date is a priority of my administration,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does a wonderful job of inspecting and performing essential civil works services, and my office is pleased to work with them to ensure that the Lebanon Junction levee is fully functional.”

An Army Corps of Engineers levee safety inspection team identified the potential need for repairs in 2008 when leakage was observed after a flood. Several more levee inspections culminating in May 2010 precisely identified why the levee wasn’t properly operating.

By a methodical and multi-discipline approach, the Corps then examined how and why the deficiencies happened. Issues included improperly sealed pipes that run through the levee, joint separation and seepage. Levee fill was incorrectly placed in the levee, which caused settling and some pipe was improperly installed. The incident has since propagated enhanced quality control by the district and improved contractor supervision.

“When the Corps designs and constructs a project, we bring the best resources to the project that we can. This deficiency is a rare and isolated occasion.  Working together will get the levee fixed and operating properly,” said Sharon Bond, chief of the Louisville District Army Corps of Engineers’ Planning Branch.

Construction will begin in spring when weather conditions allow. Cold winter weather keeps the ground frozen so repairs have to wait until the spring thaw. The levee is 1.8 miles long with .06 miles of floodwall with three closure structures. Prior work to raise the levee had been done in 2004. The contractor for the upcoming levee repair project is PDBC3-EDT Joint Venture Group, Campbellsville, Ky. The total project cost is approximately $400,000.