Rio Puerto Nuevo Flood Damage Reduction Project

SPONSOR: Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER).

AUTHORIZATION: Section 202 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-662)

REMAINING PROJECT COST: $1.585 Billion

FUNDING: 100% funded under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to address damages from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

LOCATION: Rio Puerto Nuevo is located in Metropolitan San Juan and it includes the Rio Piedras Drainage Basin and its tributaries, which drains 24 square miles.

DESCRIPTION: The Río Puerto Nuevo Basin drains 24 square miles, 75 percent of which is highly developed with a population of 250,000 persons. Rapid upstream runoff, inadequate channel capacity, constriction at bridges, and elimination of the flood plain by urbanization cause severe flooding to 7,500 residents, and 700 commercial and public structures valued at over $3 billion. The project includes six discreet project segments that will be constructed through separate contracts between now and 2032.

BENEFITS: When completed, the project will provide over $125 million average annual economic benefits and 100-year flood protection to more than 250,000 area residents. 

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The 2D Wall Contract consists of construction of 700-feet-long right and 350-feet-long left channel walls on Rio Puerto Nuevo in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Construction contract was awarded in FY17 and is currently schedule for completion in October 2020. The contract was delayed due to Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Work under the Upper Margarita channel contract is nearly completed. The $18.5 million contract, covers the area upstream of the Margarita Channel to the downstream crossing of the De Diego Highway bridge and is part of the Río Puerto Nuevo flood control project, that seeks to avoid future floods that affect the Puerto Nuevo and San Patricio areas. Construction began in August 2014.

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Sewer Line Relocation and Remaining Upper Margarita Channel (Sta 56+00 to Sta 89+60)

Roosevelt Bridge replacement

Channel Walls and Main Channel (Sta 88+33 to Sta 147+40).

Stilling Basin and Bridge Modifications of 4 Major Existing Bridges:
4A-1) Las Americas Expressway Bridge
4A-2) Piñero Avenue Bridge East
4A-3) NE Access Ramp Bridge
4A-4) SE Access Ramp Bridge

Bridge Replacement of Notre Dame Street Bridge and Piñero Avenue Bridge West.

Middle Main Channel - Sta. 147+40 to PR HWY 1 (Sta 240+00), 2 Buena Vista Bridge Replacement – Buena Vista Diversion Channel (Sta 0+00 to Sta. 42+37) and Construction of One Debris Basin.

Bridge Replacement of 10 Bridges, Quebrada Josefina (Piñero Avenue West Bridge South) Channel and Stilling Basins, Quebrada Doña Ana Channel and Stilling Basins.

  • Contract 1: Design, Real Estate, Procurement and Award by Dec 2021, Construction from 2022 - 2026
  • Contract 2: Design, Real Estate, Procurement and Award by April 2022, Construction from 2022 - 2025
  • Contract 3: Design, Real Estate, Procurement and Award by April 2022, Construction from 2022 - 2025
  • Contract 4: Design, Real Estate, Procurement and Award by Dec 2022, Construction from 2023 - 2027
  • Contract 5: Design, Real Estate, Procurement and Award by May 2023, Construction from 2023 - 2026
  • Contract 6: Design, Real Estate, Procurement and Award starting in 2021 and completed by June 2027, Construction from 2027 - 2032
  • Contract 7: Design, Real Estate, Procurement and Award starting in 2021 and completed by May 2026, Construction from 2026 - 2031
  • $46.0 million covers construction of the first 1.3 miles of channel beginning in San Juan Harbor and ending about ½ mile downstream of the De Diego Expressway Bridge over Río Piedras.

  • $3.7 million includes seismic retrofit for the Kennedy Avenue Bridge. Contract was awarded to PRE-CON Marine, Inc., in April 2002 and was completed in September 2004. Contract was modified to include installation of a 36-inch waterline as betterment at a cost of $6.8 million (100% Non-Federal Cost). This added work was completed in December 2005.

  • A Contract which included channel excavation along the Margarita Channel a confluence wall and dredging of the lower Puerto Nuevo Channel,was awarded in June 2010 to Dragados USA at a cost of $55M. Construction was initiated in November 2010 and was completed in May 2014 Contract.

  • $84 million was awarded to Dick Corporation in November 2002 and it was completed December of 2010. Contractor completed the secant pile wall box culvert, Option B, which is the last 300 feet of the culvert near the port facilities bulkhead, and the open channel work north of Kennedy Avenue, which is the upper limit of this contract. Modification of the 90” sewer line segment was completed under a separate contract which was awarded in August of 2011 to Dragados USA at a cost of $38 million. The contract was completed in December 2015. Full flood damage prevention benefits of the Bechara Sector are being realized with this segment.

  • $22 million was awarded to Río Construction in April 2003 and they proceeded to complete the east abutment wall. The contract was terminated by default after difficulties and lack of progress of work by Rio Construction. The Corps of Engineers proceeded with negotiations with Surety Company and was able to award a new contract to Carro & Carro Construction in September 2007. Notice to Proceed was issued on 26 November 2007. Contractor completed all work on this contract in July 2014 which included both abutments of the bridge and drill shaft reinforcement for the east and west piers.