DOTD provides update on tainter gates at Lake D’Arbonne in Union Parish
Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 1:53:57 PM
DOTD provides update on tainter gates at Lake D’Arbonne in Union Parish
Today, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development provided an update on the status of the tainter (flood) gates at the Lake D’Arbonne spillway in Union Parish.
While trying to open the south gate in February 2023, the gate opening mechanism malfunctioned as the gate was being opened, leaving it open at only approximately 1.5 feet.
DOTD immediately secured emergency funding in order to diagnose and repair the gate mechanism.
The mechanism was removed and taken via contractor to a specialized repair facility in Houston, Tx.
The new mechanisms arrived at the local District office in late May 2023.
During installation at the spillway on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, it was discovered that solely due to an error by the specialized repair facility, the incorrect gearboxes were procured and sent to the site. As a result, these particular parts were not able to be installed.
New gearboxes were subsequently ordered, with the understanding that receiving those was likely to be first quarter 2024 due to their custom nature and having to be manufactured overseas.
In the meantime, the repair facility refurbished the original broken gearboxes by using parts from the incorrect gearboxes. Those refurbished mechanisms arrived in the local District office in early October 2023.
UPDATE: Installation of those mechanisms occurred on October 11, 2023. Both the north and south gates now have fully functioning refurbished gearboxes and are now fully functional.
The old spillway still allows for the flow of water downstream up to 80 feet, which is considered pool stage elevation.