9/29/93
By: Brien Murphy
Courier-Post Staff Writer

Crews removed the remaining flood gates from the levee protecting downtown Hannibal, opening all the intersections for the first time since June 24.

Bleigh Construction crews and city employees started removed the gates at Hill, Center and South Main streets this morning as the Mississippi River fell to 16.15 feet by 7 a.m. This is the closest the river has been to technical flood stage (16 feet) since April 1, 174 days ago.

Gates first were installed in April because of spring flooding. They were replaced when the river rose again in June.

The gates were installed and removed at different times this year, but two intersections have been closed for 130 days this year because of the gates.

* Hill and Center streets: Installed April 12-June 21 for 40 days, and June 24-Sept. 21 for 90 days (130 days total).
* Broadway: Both gates installed April 15-June 21 for 37 days, and June 25-Aug. 11 for 48 days (85 days total).
* South Main Street: Installed April 25-June 21 for 37 days, and June 25-Sept. 21 for 89 days (126 days total).

Ironically, the $8 million flood levee was completed early this year after almost three years of work, and this was the first time it was used to battle a flood.

It costs several thousand dollars to remove or install the gates. The city does not own its own crane large enough to do the job, and must rent it.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which paid for most of the construction costs, released statistics earlier this summer showing that the levee paid for itself by protecting downtown homes and businesses.

The Corps estimates the levee saved $14.5 million in damages this year, $6.5 million more than it cost to build it.