Posted on July 24, 2023
The U.S Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District announced today the award of a $48.1 million contract to Granite Construction Co., from Watsonville, California, for Phase 1 of a flood risk mitigation levee system to be constructed in Wharton, Texas.
As part of the Southwestern Division’s Hurricane Damage Reconstruction and Risk Reduction Project, the Lower Colorado River Basin, Wharton levee project is funded by the 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act. This is the second of four major feature of the Wharton project to be implemented, with the first being the Santa Fe Ditch reconstruction and armoring constructed in May-Oct 2022.
“This much needed project will help mitigate flood risk and damage to the City of Wharton and its citizens from severe storms,” said the Fort Worth District’s Wharton Levee project manager, Andrew Park.
The Corps awarded the project via a firm-fixed-price contract for construction on June 23. Corps officials estimate Phase 1 completion in the spring of 2025.
Corps officials also note that levees, floodwalls and other measures can greatly reduce, but not eliminate the risk of flooding. Residents should follow the guidance of their local elected officials and emergency plans during flood events.
