Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan chose the city’s LaSalle Street Pump Station as the backdrop for her briefing as Hurricane Helene bore down on the Big Bend region on Florida’s west coast.

LaSalle Street is a significant investment by the City of Jacksonville to alleviate chronic flooding in the San Marco neighborhood. Those entities partnered with Haskell as the project’s design-builder, a $42.5 million undertaking with its first phase scheduled to be completed on schedule in Spring 2025.

The project’s second phase will run through 2026 and feature the construction of new drainage pipes and inlets in the LaSalle basin.

Even though Helene wasn’t expected to cause widespread flooding in Jacksonville, the combination of tropical storm force winds and high tide in Northeast Florida typically causes a storm surge in the St. Johns River that can inundate low-lying neighborhoods.

In the interim, the seven temporary pumps that could direct 7,500 gallons of water per minute were deployed to allow for drainage while the improvements were being made. Once complete, the LaSalle Street Pump Station will increase that capacity to nearly 70,000 gallons per minute.

“We’re not just replacing pipes; we’re increasing the size of the drainage system to handle massive amounts of stormwater,” Haskell Senior Project Manager Omar Rodriguez said. “Improving the capacity and volume for drainage is a big upgrade. With larger pipes and the new pump station, we’re looking at a significant improvement in flood protection for the area.”

Note: Story continues below map illustration

Phase 1 construction began in June 2023 and entails the new pump station, standby electrical generator, 48” outfall, gravity drainage piping and bulkhead replacement. Phase 2 will add an improved underground pipeline more than 6,000 feet long.

“We have systems like this in place all over the city, but we still need to stress the importance of managing issues that come with being so close to the water,” Deegan said.

The project’s location in a confined residential area has made storing and moving materials difficult. Haskell has ensured residents are aware of the construction phases and any upcoming inconveniences.

“We knew the construction would be impactful, so we made it a priority to engage directly with the community, keeping everyone informed about timelines and what to expect,” Project Superintendent John Hendrix said. “We’re there for town meetings, and we opened our doors for one-on-one conversations to make sure that we could hear and understand any concerns.”

Haskell and the city continue to keep the project on track by adapting to logistical challenges and communicating transparently. Residents generally have overlooked any disruption and are relieved to see progress after years of flooding.

“Tearing up streets in front of people’s homes isn’t easy, but we made sure they knew why it was necessary,” Hendrix added. “Most people are just relieved that something is finally being done.”

Haskell offers clients the assurance that their projects will be completed safely, on time, within budget and with the least possible risk exposure. Contact us to discuss your facilities needs.