IHNC- Seabrook Sector Gate Complex - How We Arrived Here After Hurricane Katrina

IHNC- Seabrook Sector Gate Complex (SGC) is constructed under the supervision of USACE New Orleans District to provide a 100-year level of protection from a storm that will be contained outside the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) and expected to protect businesses and people of New Orleans, LA. Additionally, the Complex will maintain a clear, navigable waterway between the lake and the canal which will facilitate recreational marine traffic as well as movement of barges carrying raw materials and finished products, serving the numerous industries downstream of the canal and playing a vital role in the economy of the region. The SGC consists of one navigable Sector gate and two Vertical Lift Gates (VLG) used for controlling the flow velocity. These gates and the adjacent systems are designed to prevent storm surge levels up to EL 16.0. A hydraulic study was performed before selecting the optimum configuration for this complex, satisfying the navigation and flow control requirements. The steel VLG and the guiding system were designed in partial collaboration with experts from Netherlands who have vast experience in designing similar structures. The design considered several loading conditions during regular operation and extreme situation. The SGC is also equipped with a steel bridge, access ramp, generator building, control house buildings, and VLG towers. Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) method was used in this significant project to finish the project within the timeframe mandated by the US Congress. Challenges and solutions encountered during the design and construction of this project, along with operation and maintenance details, will be discussed in this paper.