• Funding allocated to previously approved, ongoing projects
KANSAS CITY, MO, Apr. 29, 2009 -- The City of Kansas City, Mo., has announced the receipt of $28.7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding for ongoing construction projects previously authorized by Congress. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will administer the funds.
Projects receiving federal stimulus funding include:
- Turkey Creek will receive $13.5 million for walled channel construction and replacement of an existing railroad bridge. The Turkey Creek project is a bi-state flood damage reduction project providing benefits in both Kansas City, Mo., and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan.
- Blue River Channel will receive $5.2 million to fund the remainder of the construction presently under way from Brush Creek south to 53rd Street
- Blue River Channel also will receive $10 million for a design-build contract from 53rd Street south to 63rd Street that will essentially complete the channel work for the Blue River flood damage reduction project that was authorized in 1970 and that has been under construction since 1985.
"We have been working closely with the Corps of Engineers to ensure these important flood reduction projects were included in the federal stimulus allocation," City Manager Wayne A. Cauthen said. "The funding guarantees the continuation of work on the projects, which preserves current jobs and creates new employment opportunities as the scope of construction expands."
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds administered through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program require a local match in accordance with the cooperative agreements in place when construction began.
When completed, the Turkey Creek Project will yield more than $5 million in annual benefits. The Blue River Project will lower the 100-year flood levels by approximately 6 to 8 feet protecting 4,100 businesses employing 66,100 people.
For more information about the Blue River and Turkey Creek projects, contact Colleen Doctorian, public information officer for the Water Services Department, (816) 513-0232. For more information regarding federal stimulus issues, contact Greg Williams, legislative liaison at (816) 513-1307.
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