Posted on August 14, 2024
BALTIMORE — Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General and 55th U.S. Army Chief of Engineers, signed a Chief’s Report for Baltimore Coastal Storm Risk Management Study during a ceremony at USACE Headquarters in Washington, D.C., August 5, 2024. The report recommends Congress fund about $77 million for structural floodwalls to manage coastal storm damage risk and flooding to the I-95 and I-895 tunnel entrances and associated critical facilities to improve infrastructure resiliency in the metro region.
The recommended plan is the result of a three-year, $3 million study cost-shared evenly between USACE, Baltimore District and Maryland Department of Transportation investigating coastal storm flooding problems, needs and potential solutions for key locations in the Baltimore coastal study area.
The study’s recommendations aim to reduce coastal flood risk at key locations to people, properties, infrastructure and resources, while considering potential future climate and sea level changes. The authority is exclusive to coastal flood risk and not applicable to flood risk from heavy, localized rainfall or nuisance flooding.
The project would include approximately 9,500 feet of fixed floodwalls along the southern approach tunnel entrances and corresponding tunnel ventilation buildings, as well as closure structures for openings in the floodwalls where needed. These floodwalls would tie to higher ground and reduce flood risk to the tunnels from 100-year or 1 percent annual exceedance probability storm events. The recommended plan boasts annual net benefits of $61.5 million, with substantial regional economic outputs.
“The people of Baltimore know all too well the impact caused when vital transportation infrastructure is lost. This project would improve the resiliency of the tunnels, which are critical routes for the transportation of goods and services in the state of Maryland and along the Eastern seaboard,” said Spellmon.
The study team focused on regional critical infrastructure, including port terminals, highways and evacuation routes, hospitals, public utilities and local airport authority facilities susceptible to flooding. Selected focus areas are characterized by flat and low-lying elevations and streams and rivers in the study area draining into the Chesapeake Bay.
“The Fort McHenry Tunnel is used by approximately 45 million vehicles per year and the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel sees nearly 27 million vehicles per year,” said Joe Bieberich, Baltimore District Coastal Storm Risk Management Study Project Manager. “It is very important to make sure these critical transportation routes remain open during a coastal storm event, maintaining access to jobs, commercial transportation routes and emergency services.”
The Baltimore metro region is highly susceptible to flooding. Future storms may result in increased flood risk, economic damages and life safety concerns, not just for tropical storms and hurricanes but also for nor’easters. Presidential declarations for seven flood-related disasters were made for the Baltimore metro region between 1971 and 2011. In Baltimore City, alone, annualized damages due to coastal flooding are estimated at $2.2 million.
The non-federal sponsor for the design and construction phases will be the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), an authority under MDOT. USACE and MDTA will begin design work later this year. Pending Congressional Authorization and appropriation of funds, construction would begin in 2027.
Additional study details and the signed report can be found on the Baltimore District website at https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/missions/civil-works/baltimore-coastal-study/.
Additional Information
Baltimore District delivers vital engineering solutions in collaboration with its partners to serve and strengthen the Nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risks. Headquartered near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Baltimore District provides design, engineering, construction, environmental, and real estate expertise to various important projects and customers. This support spans five states, the District of Columbia, overseas, and the Susquehanna, Potomac, and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. These civil and military missions and diverse engineering services support communities and warfighters while addressing the ever-growing list of emerging national security requirements and ultimately protecting the Nation.
