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Parkersburg looks to replace floodwall gate logs from 1955

Creosote logs are shown in a partially closed gate in the Parkersburg floodwall near the northern end of the Parkersburg Ohio River Trail in September. Parkersburg City Council is considering allocating money to replace the wood logs with aluminum ones, as well as funding for graffiti abatement. (Photo by Art Smith)

PARKERSBURG — City officials have requested funding to start the process of replacing the logs used to close the floodwall gates, almost all of which are original to the structure that was built in 1955.

Some of the creosote logs have only been installed as part of tests, while others are left in place for gates which are “permanently” closed. Others have been put to frequent use when the waters of the Ohio River rise, such as at Point Park or near the former Third Street Deli, City Engineer Adam Stout said.

An allocation of $62,500 for new aluminum logs was included in a budget revision forwarded to Parkersburg City Council this week by its Finance Committee. Mayor Tom Joyce said at the meeting that the funds won’t replace all the logs but will get the process started.

Stout noted the aluminum logs won’t deteriorate like their wood counterparts and will be easier to install.

“They’re so much lighter as far as manpower to put them in,” he said.

Creosote logs are shown in a partially closed gate in the Parkersburg floodwall near the northern end of the Parkersburg Ohio River Trail in September. Parkersburg City Council is considering allocating money to replace the wood logs with aluminum ones, as well as funding for graffiti abatement. (Photo by Art Smith)

Some logs at the more frequently used gates that had deteriorated significantly have already been switched out for aluminum, Stout said.

The floodwall has 14 gates, five of which are considered permanently closed because the openings are no longer used.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recommended, but not required, in annual inspections that the wood logs in the permanently closed gates be replaced with a material like concrete, Stout said. City officials are inquiring as to whether the aluminum logs would be an acceptable replacement, he said.

If they aren’t approved for the permanent closures, the aluminum logs could still be used at the other gates, Stout said.

Another $40,000 in the revision would be designated for graffiti abatement along the floodwall.

The budget revision resolution is expected to appear on council’s Feb. 13 agenda. It includes a total of $2.4 million in revisions. More than half of that amount is the result of an increased business and occupation tax revenue estimate.

The largest allocation is $650,000 for the planned $13 million activity and recreation building in City Park.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com

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