HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has made significant changes to a Honolulu flood control project that would increase costs and add a four-story pump station.
A Corps official said updates to the Ala Wai Flood Risk Management Project focus on evacuating water in the upper reaches of watershed valleys without detaining it.
Project Manager Jeff Herzog said the updates to the project on the city’s historic Ala Wai Canal would decrease the impact on residential properties and natural streams.
Previous Corps designs estimated costs of $345 million, with the state paying $121 million and federal funds covering the rest. The new plan is estimated at about $376 million with a $48 million contingency.
The project stalled last year after opposition from members of the community, which included protests, a lawsuit and the formation of an interaction group sanctioned by the Honolulu City Council.