Richmond Virginia is located at the fall line of the James River in Eastern Virginia. Its specific location makes the area vulnerable to all floods originating in the 6,760 square miles of drainage area upstream. Flooding in the city's two business districts, Shockoe Valley on the north bank and Manchester in the southside, has resulted in serious and extended business losses to commercial and industrial activities, disruption of rail and highway transportation, and prolonged interruption of public utility operations. The Richmond Floodwall, dedicated on October 21, 1994, protects 750 acres of flood prone land.
Floodwall Facts
Northside
Protected area - 150 acres
Overall length - 4,277 linear feet
140 linear feet of sand bag levee up to 7 feet high
3,947 linear feet of concrete wall, 4 to 30 feet high
2 railroad closures
5 roadway closures
1 railroad/roadway closure
1 pedestrian overlook and parking lot
1 pump station - 75,000 gallons per minute
4 pedestrian closure sites
Materials used - 22,000 cubic yards of concrete
1,050 tons of reinforcing steel
55,000 linear feet of steel piles
Southside
Protected area - 600 acres
Overall length - 13,2046 linear feet
175 linear feet of sand bag levee up to 7 feet high
7,170 linear feet of earthen levee 4 to 30 feet high
1,887 linear feet of bin wall/levee 16 to 26 feet high
3,566 linear feet of concrete wall up to 50 feet high
4 railroad closures
1 roadway closures
1 railroad/roadway closure
Pedestrian walkway - 5,655 linear feet including: 3 pedestrian bridges, 2 overlooks, and 2 parking lots
2 pump station - 4,400 and 28,000 gallons per minute
Materials used - 26,000 cubic yards of concrete
950 tons of reinforcing steel
50,000 linear feet of steel piles
630,000 cubic yards of earth fill
The Richmond Floodwall was the first project of its kind built under the cost-sharing provision of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, in partnership between many talented employees of the US Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District and the City of Richmond
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