THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608170003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 35 lines
Several months ago, the Virginia Beach City Council had to gamble: Should it bet on Mother Nature directing her hurricanes elsewhere or the federal government's approving a $66 million hurricane protection plan?
City Council may have been optimistic when it bet on Uncle Sam, but it was wise not to gamble that killer hurricanes would forever detour around Virginia Beach.
As the busiest part of hurricane season approaches, the Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing bids for the first phase of a four-year $102 million hurricane protection plan which would fortify seawalls, widen beaches, build up dunes and install stormwater pumping stations from Rudee Inlet to 89th Street.
Virginia Beach has agreed to pay $36 million of the project's cost. The federal government is expected to fund the remaining $66 million, but Congress has been slow to approve the expenditure and the Clinton administration opposes it.
City Council, impatient to begin work on the potentially life-saving project, agreed to cover both its share and the federal government's portion for the first phase of the construction and plans to press ahead with the second phase as well.
The first phase includes improvements to the south end of the beach. Bids for the work are in and are surprisingly modest. If the low bid is acccepted, the job could come in $1.7 million under budget. The Army Corps of Engineers is examining the bids and may award the contract by the end of this week.
Odds are that a big hurricane will someday strike Virginia Beach. The city has wisely decided to take expensive precautions to minimize the damage. by CNB