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1 June, 2006. Lakeview, New Orleans, Louisiana. Contractors for the US Army Corps of Engineers work on the $50 million 17th Street Canal Interim Closure structure. The dam, designed to prevent water build up in the canal during hurricane storm surges is almost complete. Between 30 and 50 workers per 12 hour shift work around the clock, seven days a week to complete the dam. They continue to drive pilings into the water and have the center section left to complete. The barrier has yet to be automated with hydraulic lifts. For now the Army Corps must use cranes to manually close the structure. The pumping capacity is currently only 10% of pre hurricane Katrina levels, potentially leaving the affluent Lakeview neighbourhood unprotected.
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