Gov. Tom Corbett Thursday announced the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $2.25 million to HRI, Inc. of State College to rehabilitate a 50-year-old levee structure on Little Toby Creek to support flood protection in Brockway, Jefferson County.
The project will improve a vital flood protection system, replacing 26 deteriorated levee drainage structures with reinforced concrete pipes, inlet and outlet structures throughout the Brockway Borough’s flood protection system.
“This flood protection system in Jefferson County plays a vital role in preventing property damage and guarding residents from harm,” Gov. Corbett said. “It is important to maintain this system and others like it to safeguard the public for many years to come.”
Recent DEP inspections of the Brockway system showed that it was in need of repair due to deteriorating levee drainage structures. Many of the drainage structures are made of corrugated metal and have become corroded over time. Additionally, the concrete headwalls for many of the structures are also in poor condition.
DEP conducts annual inspections of flood protection systems to ensure the project is in satisfactory working condition. These inspections include but are not limited to checking embankment stability, vegetation, erosion protection, drainage pipe condition and concrete structural integrity. Work on the site is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2015.
For more information call 717-772-5993. For general information on flood control, visit DEP’s Flood Protection webpage.