May 2023
FACT SHEET
Río de la Plata, PR
Construction (C)
Congressional District: Puerto Rico
1. DESCRIPTION
The Río de la Plata basin is located about 11 miles west of San Juan and drains approximately 240 square miles. Heavy rainfall combined with the steep headwater slopes causes frequent flooding in the towns of Dorado, Toa Baja, and Toa Alta. The recommended plan provides 100-year protection upstream of PR Highway 2 and SPF protection downstream. The project consists of 4.8 miles of channel improvements, 6.22 miles of levees, culverts, utility relocations, recreation facilities, and mitigation for the loss of environmental habitats. The Water Resources Development Act of 1990 authorized this project.
2. FUNDING
| Estimated Total Cost |
$993,700,000 |
| Estimated Federal Cost |
$981,500,000 |
a. Regular Civil Works Funds:
| Allocation thru FY22 |
$63,961,000 |
| Allocation for FY23 |
$0 |
| President's Budget FY24 |
$0 |
b. P.L. 115-123: Bi-Partisan Budget Act of 2018, Supplemental:
| Current Working Estimate |
$485,200,000 |
| Allocation thru FY22 |
$65,860,000 |
| Allocation for FY23 |
$4,000,000 |
3. SPONSOR
Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER)
P.O. Box 366147
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936
4. STATUS
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding was used to design and construct Contract #1A of the authorized project. The construction contract was completed in December 2016. The Dorado Bridge Channel Widening & Scour Protection Contract was awarded in September 2017. The project was delayed due to Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, and by Hurricane Fiona in 2022. The Notice to Proceed (NTP) has been issued and construction began in August 2018 and is expected to be completed in June 2024. The remaining project segments were funded under the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018 (P.L 115-123). The first supplemental contract (Articulated Concrete Block Mat and Toe Key) was awarded in 2020 and is expected to be completed in June 2023. Plans and Specifications (P&S) for future supplemental contracts were brokered to Huntington and Philadelphia District. The following contracts will be executed using BBA 2018 funds:
- Supplemental Contract 1 — Contract award scheduled for 2025.
- Supplemental Contract 2 — Recommended for removal pending approval of a Validation Report and approval by the HQ Change Control Board.
- Supplemental Contract 3 — Contract award scheduled for 2028.
- Super-Aqueduct Relocation — Contract award scheduled for 2025
