BATON ROUGE — The Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday reported the Comite Diversion Canal project is roughly 67 percent complete, and officials remain on track to finish by the end of 2028, a milestone that would include removal of existing dams and bring the canal into full operation.
What officials say about the schedule
Rene Poche of the Army Corps said the Corps is targeting the close of 2028 for project completion. Once finished, the canal is designed to carry significant volumes of water away from developed areas, a central element of flood risk reduction around the Baton Rouge area.
"We're looking toward the end of 2028 for project completion, that's 100 percent complete," Poche said.
Scope, cost and current status
The Comite Diversion Canal stretches roughly 12 miles and is being excavated to dimensions that include a channel width of about 300 feet and a depth of at least 50 feet. The project’s final tab is projected at $819 million. According to the Corps, every major utility that needed relocation has been moved and all construction contracts have been awarded.
Bridges and access points remain in work
Five bridges will ultimately cross the diversion channel. The McHugh Road bridge was built and completed in 2022, though it remains closed to traffic. Work continues on the La. Highway 19 bridge; Glenn Ledet, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, said teams are making progress on multiple components.
"The north side is open for traffic now, we're working on the south side and we're doing the rail bridge," Ledet said.
Ledet noted these structures span the full length of the canal and are integral to reconnecting neighborhoods and maintaining transportation links once construction allows full access.
Land acquisition and logistics
Land procurement, once a potential hurdle, is now complete. In 2018 the state had obtained only a portion of the parcels needed; project managers report all required property has since been acquired. That clearance, officials say, has enabled steady movement of construction operations without the delays that unresolved land rights can create.
- Completion percentage: 67%
- Projected final cost: $819 million
- Projected completion: end of 2028
- Canal dimensions: 12 miles, 300 feet wide, 50+ feet deep
- Bridges required: 5 (McHugh Road complete but closed; La. 19 still under construction)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Completion (reported) | 67% |
| Projected finish | End of 2028 |
| Estimated cost | $819 million |
| Length / width / depth | 12 miles / ~300 ft / ≥50 ft |
Why the canal matters locally
The Comite Diversion Canal is a long-planned component of flood control for the greater Baton Rouge region. Its intended purpose is to divert high flows away from populated areas and into a controlled outfall. When operational, the canal will alter how stormwater and river flows are managed across a broad area and is expected to reduce flooding risk for numerous communities.
What remains and what to watch
With major utilities relocated and contracts assigned, the remaining work centers on earthmoving, finishing the five bridges and removing existing dams as parts of the system become ready to function. Local officials and the Corps will monitor timelines as work progresses; contractors still have structural and finishing tasks to complete before the canal becomes fully operational.
For residents near project sites, impacts include construction traffic, temporary road closures and ongoing coordination with transportation and utility agencies. Transportation leaders say steps are being taken to restore safe crossings over the canal as each bridge reaches completion.
As the Corps continues toward its 2028 target, state and local officials will assess project milestones and any adjustments to schedule or budget. The canal’s completion is a major milestone in the region’s long-term flood-mitigation efforts and will be watched closely by communities that stand to benefit from reduced flood exposure.
