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Packery Channel facing major rebuild that will cost millions

Posted at 11:47 AM, Apr 25, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-25 13:28:14-04

Packery Channel needs some major repairs and it’s going to cost millions of dollars to fix it.

We’ve been looking into the problems that have plagued Packery Channel since it opened more than 15 years ago.

The channel will have to be completely rebuilt.

That’s according to an engineering study that determined the damaged and sunken channel walls caused by Hurricane Harvey are because of the design.

The channel has not been able to withstand coastal storms and tidal surge, as shown from video taken last June.

To fix that damage, it will cost the City of Corpus Christi between $10 million and $15 million dollars, with 90 percent of that will be reimbursed by FEMA.

“We’re going to put it back better than it was,” City Engineer Jeff Edmonds said. “We think a design that’s going to be much more robust and able at least to withstand an event similar to Harvey.”

Later today, we’ll have a look at the condition of Packery Channel. Has it gotten worse?

Also, we’ll hear more about why it’s taken so long to repair.

 

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