CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Work is scheduled to begin next year in Cabell County on a more than 8,000-foot levee to protect the City of Milton from potentially catastrophic future flooding.
“I’m all in. We’re done. We’re going. We’re going forward. The dirt’s going to start moving,” Governor Jim Justice said before signing a proclamation to formally solidify the partnership between West Virginia, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Milton.
The projected cost of the Milton earthen floodwall project along the Mud River, providing protection to Milton’s central business district and 600 total structures, is $143 million.
Previously, more than $96 million in federal funding was allocated for it in the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act. That accounts for about 65 percent of the total cost.
The city and the state are responsible for the rest.
As part of the agreement signed Monday, Justice pledged $43 million to the project. The funding will be allocated by the legislature over a several year period, the governor’s office said.
“The Governor worked alongside legislative leadership to ensure the State would be able to afford its contribution to the effort – which will trigger a federal match, estimated to reach nearly $90 million in additional funding to make the levee a reality,” the release said.
Last year, state lawmakers allocated $8 million for two pump stations and one gate closure across a public road.
“My cup is running over today,” said Milton Mayor Tom Canterbury about the project that has been in the works for years.
A feasibility study from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the West Virginia Conservation Agency and the state wrapped up last year.
With the agreement now in place, work was scheduled to begin in Summer 2021 on an earthen levee covering 8,300 linear feet and wrap up before the end of 2024.
The majority of it will be aligned north of the Mud River.
“Upon completion of this project, it will reduce flood risk, improve quality of life and provide economic benefits to the community for years to come,” said Col. Jason Evers, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District.
Currently, much of Milton sits in the 27-year floodplain.
With the new levee, officials have said the majority of Milton would become part of the 250-year floodplain.
The last “flood of record” in Milton was in March 1997 when there was $42 million, in today’s dollars, in damages, Col. Evers said.
Governor Justice, speaking at the State Capitol, said the project is something that needs to be done now.
“There’s lots and lots and lots of projects all throughout our state that are also really important, but I truly believe — because I’ve been there, I’ve seen it, I’ve seen your community over and over and over — I truly believe this is absolutely worthy,” Governor Justice said.