Rio Guayanilla PR (C)

May 2023

FACT SHEET

Río Guayanilla, PR
Construction (C)
Congressional Districts: Puerto Rico

1. DESCRIPTION

The Rio Guayanilla project area comprises the Guayanilla coastal flood plain located about 16 kilometers west of the city of Ponce. Within the flood plain lies the town of Guayanilla, the Playa de Guayanilla sector, and other rural communities with an affected population of approximately 8,800 residents. A serious flood problem exists as the river passes directly through the middle of the town. Damages associated with flooding have been reported by the municipality ten times in the last twenty-five years. In addition to property damages, a serious risk exists to the lives and well-being of those residing within the flood plain. Frequent flooding seriously impedes the socio-economic development of the community. The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) completed construction of one segment, Phase I, in 2006. No additional construction has been pursued by DNER due to financial conditions of the Commonwealth. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA18) appropriated $3M to complete a feasibility report. The feasibility study was brokered to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Great Lakes and Ohio River Division (LRD). The Rio Guayanilla feasibility study was initiated in September 2018. A Chief of Engineers Report was signed on 13 August 2020.

2. FUNDING

Estimated Total Cost $63,600,000
Estimated Federal Cost $63,600,000

 

a. Regular Civil Works funds:

Allocation thru FY22 $0
Allocation for FY23 $0
President’s Budget FY24 $0

 

b. P.L. 115-123: Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Supplemental:

Current Working Estimate $3,000,000
Allocation thru FY22 $100,000
Allocation for FY23 $0

 

c. P.L. 117-58: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Supplemental:

Total Work Plan $60,600,000
Allocation thru FY22 $0
Allocation for FY23 $100,000

 

3. SPONSOR

Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP)
P.O. Box 41269, Minillas Station
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00940-1269

4. STATUS

The project has been authorized for construction under Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2020 Section 401(2). Federal funds were provided under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Public Law 117-58, ($60.6M) to initiate design and construction of the first contract. The project is subject to cost share (65% Fed/35% non-Fed). DTOP will be the non-Federal sponsor for all future phases

A Design Agreement with the non-federal sponsor DTOP is expected to be executed by 30 Jun 2023. The detailed pre-construction engineering and design, up through preparation of plans and specifications for the initial construction contract only for the project, is expected to start on 1 November 2023.

 

Click for full-sized Rio Guayanilla study area map