St. Petersburg Considers Innovative Flood Gates to Protect Vulnerable Shore Acres Neighborhood
St. Petersburg,FL – City officials are poised to take a notable step towards protecting the flood-prone Shore Acres neighborhood,considering a $147,450 feasibility study to assess the installation of two advanced flood gates.The St. Petersburg City Council will vote on the study this thursday, possibly paving the way for a groundbreaking solution to chronic flooding issues.
Shore Acres, the city’s lowest-lying area, has borne the brunt of recent storm surges, accounting for 20% of the 11,000 homes flooded citywide during last year’s Hurricane Helene. Residents have also suffered repeated inundation from Hurricane Idalia in 2023, as well as regular high-tide and rainfall flooding.
The proposed flood gates, a technology commonly employed in coastal communities like those in Louisiana and the Netherlands, would be the first of thier kind in the region. Jacobs Engineering Group would conduct the study, identifying optimal locations for the gates – potentially integrated with the planned replacement of the Overlook Bridge on Smacks Bayou around 2028, with a second gate near Fire Station 12 and Shore Acres Mini Park. The study will also analyze potential benefits, risks, permitting hurdles, and overall costs.
“This is probably the coolest thing I’ve seen come from engineering,” remarked Councilmember Mike Harting, who represents the affected area. “In essence, this will turn the entire basin west of Shore Acres into a holding bin for floodwater.”
The proposed gates would utilize remote operation and sensor technology, incorporating real-time monitoring of tide levels and water depth. Initial cost estimates for the two hinged gates are around $24 million, along with the already budgeted $17 million for the Overlook Bridge replacement, which receives a $3 million contribution from the Florida Department of Transportation.
The flood gate system would work in tandem with a planned pump station, cleverly disguised as a single-family home with a functioning garage, though cost estimates for this component are still being finalized.
While the city has commissioned numerous studies on flooding in Shore Acres, residents are eager for concrete action. “We need a bigger vision,” stated Kevin Batdorf, president of the Shore Acres Civic Association. “We need solutions that are more aggressive than anything that we have. They have no other plans or ideas for stopping surge flooding.”
If approved, the feasibility study is expected to be completed by early next year, bringing St. Petersburg one step closer to a potentially transformative solution for protecting its vulnerable waterfront community.
Keywords: St. Petersburg, Florida, Shore Acres, flooding, flood gates, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Idalia, Jacobs Engineering Group, storm surge, coastal resilience, city council, infrastructure, climate change.