Hurricane Creek Slope Paving Near Plank Road

The Plank Road bridge crossing at Hurricane Creek, approximately 2500 feet south of the Airline Highway and Plank Road intersection, is near an area of stream bank experiencing erosion due to flooding high water velocities. This project’s goal is to address erosion issues along the Hurricane Creek stream bank to minimize risks to Plank Road.

  Hurricane Creek Bank Near Plank Road

The photo above shows the erosion along Hurricane Creek due to damaged and missing concrete slabs along the stream bank.  If conditions continue, erosion is expected to encroach into the adjacent cemetery, impacting the gravesites and onto a portion of JH Cooney Street, and making road closure a necessary measure. Closure of this roadway, which experiences between 11,000 and 18,000 cars per day, would require 20 to 30 days of repair and an at least 5-minute detour.  To prevent these encroachments and avoid inconvenient road closures, this project will address and repair the erosion along the Hurricane Creek stream bank. This will reinforce the stream bank and prevent further erosion and encroachment of damaging flood waters.

The total cost of this project is $1.27 million with 75% of this funding from the FEMA Hazard Grant Mitigation Program. This funding is supplemented with East Baton Rouge’s local match of 25%, which will be paid for by the Louisiana Watershed Initiative.  The Hurricane Creek slope paving at Plank Road will protect the Hurricane Creek stream bank from continued erosion.  Additionally, it will mitigate the current flood risk experienced by the adjacent cemetery and nearby JH Cooney Street.  The replacement of damaged concrete slabs will ensure this area remains intact.  Additionally, improvements to the Plank Road culvert will ensure that no displacement occurs.