Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LAPLACE — Major drainage improvements are on the way in St. John the Baptist Parish, and it starts with the dredging and excavation of the Vicknair, Woodland and Haydel canals.

St. John Parish President Jaclyn Hotard joined Parish Council members Lennix Madere, Tonia Schnyder, Michael Wright  and Warren Torres, as well as project manager Quentin Landry of LA Contracting for a Monday morning groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the Vicknair Canal.

The dredging and excavation of the Vicknair, Haydel and Woodland canals will remove sediments and debris to allow for better water flow and reduce flooding. Preliminary surveys have been completed for the Vicknair Canal and clearing has commenced on the North side of I-10. Surveys on the Haydel and Woodland canals will commence within the next two weeks.

Dredging is expected to begin this month on the Vicknair Canal, which will enhance drainage in the Riverlands and Cambridge subdivisions.

The estimated project cost is $661, 265 for the Vicknair Canal, $742,555 for the Woodland Canal and $311,443 for the Haydel Canal. The estimated timeframe for this project is four to six months, weather permitting.

Parish President Jaclyn Hotard recognized the importance of this project, and she’s eager to get the ball rolling.

“Drainage remains one of the top priorities of my Administration. We look forward to completion of this project and continuing to implement other improvements parish-wide,” she said.

District Six Councilwoman Tonia Schnyder thanked Parish administration for making this project happen. She noted that it will greatly benefit the constituents in her district who have long struggled with street flooding during rain events.

“The big issue is drainage. This will allow more room for the water to flow, which will help a whole lot, especially for flooding. Riverlands and the back of Cambridge have had really bad flooding. The closer to the lake, the higher the water is,” she said.

For more information, visit sjbparish.gov, tune into the Government Access Channel (15/99) or find St. John the Baptist Parish on Facebook and Instagram.