ST. JOSEPH RIVER FLOOD CONTROL

Project Scope

E.S. Wagner Company served as the prime contractor on three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contracts to improve flood protection throughout Fort Wayne, Indiana, where recurring flooding occurred at the convergence of three major rivers. The project included raising existing flood-control dikes with approximately 175,000 cubic yards of clay and protecting them with 155,000 tons of riprap armor stone. In space-constrained areas, 5,500 linear feet of reinforced concrete floodwalls ranging from 5 to 15 feet in height were constructed. The work also included replacement of drainage outfalls, installation of gate wells and flap gates, utility replacements beneath the flood-control system, and reconstruction of adjacent roadways. These improvements significantly enhanced the region’s flood-control infrastructure and long-term resiliency. Over the four-year program, E.S. Wagner logged more than 150,000 man- hours without a lost-time accident, earning the Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District Contractor Safety Award for three consecutive years and the Army Corps of Engineers National Safety Award in the fourth year.