MSD has installed five floodwall closures in Louisville Metro due to rising Ohio River levels.
Three roadway floodwall closures were installed on Friday, April 4. Those closures are at openings in the floodwall across Second Street, Bingham Way in downtown Louisville, and Port Road in Riverport.
Closures at 10th and 27thstreets were closed on Thursday, April 3.
These openings are typically where cars and pedestrians can pass.
Floodwall closures keep the Ohio River at bay and prevent it from backing onto roadways and property.
Projections now show the river will crest on April 7 at 33.7 feet on the upper gauge and 65.6 feet on the lower gauge. Both projected levels are in Moderate Flood Mode. The regular pool on the upper gauge is 12 feet and the low stage on the lower is 9 feet.
MSD expects to have all 16 of its flood pumping stations in service by Sunday, April 6.
The flood protection system, which MSD oversees, includes:
- 26.1 miles of floodwall and earthen levee
- 16 flood pumping stations
- 150 floodgates (closures on storm drain pipes)
- 80 floodwall roadway closures
Where creeks and storm drains pass through the floodwall, gates can be closed to keep the river from flowing up the streams, and large pumps at the flood pumping stations lift the water from the creeks and pump it into the river.
MSD maintains Louisville Metro's Ohio River Flood Protection System. The system protects more than 200,000 people, 87,000 homes, and $24 billion in property throughout 110 square miles of Louisville Metro.
