Submitted by Lafayette Consolidated Goverment
LAFAYETTE, LA (September 4, 2024) – Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG)’s Drainage Department has officially begun its concrete coulee cleaning project designed to enhance the efficiency and appearance of the city’s drainage infrastructure. The project, which underscores the Boulet Administration’s commitment to maintaining safe and clean drainage systems, involves the removal of silt accumulation, vegetative debris, vines, and other obstructions from the flow line and embankments of the concrete coulees.
Bulliard Construction kicked off the project last week and will have 75 working days to complete the cleaning, covering approximately 48,550 linear feet. The cleaning process will involve skid steerers operating on the coulee floor to scoop up debris, which will then be moved to extraction points using excavators, loaded into dump trucks, and transported to disposal sites.
The project is expected to cost $488,500 and is budgeted via the Coulee Cleaning City fund. This maintenance work is typically performed every other year and is crucial for maintaining the efficiency of stormwater flow and the structural integrity of the channels.
Brian Smith, Director of the Drainage Department, highlighted the significance of the project: “We’re proud to get this going as the cleaning and maintenance of our concrete coulees impacts many across our community. This extensive cleaning will provide a more efficient flow of stormwater, control vegetative growth within the concrete joints and weep holes, and help to maintain the structural integrity of the channel sections. It provides aesthetic value too, especially in neighborhoods and busy travel corridors.”
The project not only aims to improve channel flow and prevent potential damage but also reflects LCG’s ongoing dedication to maintaining a clean and safe drainage system for all of Lafayette. LCG will continue to keep the community updated on this effort as the project progresses.
