HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Officials with the city of Huntington say work is expected to get started soon to make repairs to areas of concern in the city’s flood wall infrastructure.
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently allocated $5.1 Million for repairs to the facility. According to Brian Bracey, Executive Director of the Huntington Water Quality Board, the issues are at the 11th Street Pumping Station and monolith where sink holes have formed and the wall is leaning toward the Ohio River.
“It gives us the ability to address the movement of the pump station and the flood wall and stops the potential risk it has on the businesses and citizens in Huntington,” said Bracey.
Original construction on the flood wall began in 1937 after a massive flood devastated the city. The damage prompted work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“This is one of the largest major projects of the flood wall since it was constructed,” Bracey said.
Shoring up the walls in the 11th Street area and the pump station is only part of the work. There will need to be a replacement and repair to a drain line from the pump station to the river. The line is 38 feet underground and is expected to be a substantial part of the job. Despite the engineering challenges, Bracey didn’t expect the project to take terribly long.
“We’re anticipating getting it underway within 60 days. There are a lot of factors that go into stabilization, but we’re expecting it to last 90 days, if not less,” he said.