by Adam Ghassemi
ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. – It's been more than two years since the devastating May 2010 floods. Now the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is one step closer to having one of its facilities operational again.
Monday the Corps broke ground on a project that will rebuild two buildings, a Lock Operations Center and the Resource Manager's Office, lost to flood waters near Cheatham Dam.
"In my 20 years I've seen the water rise up four times above its banks. Three times it got to the front porch of the office and stopped. Fourth time was the charm," said Cheatham Lake Resource Manager Larry Nash.
Nash was there when the Cumberland came up so high his crew had to secure what they could before realizing the only way to save nine workers trapped inside the Cheatham Lock was by boat.
Corps leaders say enough destruction has been repaired throughout the region that they can begin redoing their own facilities.
Engineers say will be at least story taller and able to handle the next 500 year flood.
"It's going to be pre-cast concrete panels so everything can be moved and then kind of power washed after something floods, water gets in it so there's no mold or anything like that can occur," said Project Manager Megan Kenter.
The buildings will be LEAD Silver certified, meaning they'll draw about 30% less electricity off the dam than before.
The project costs $4-million and is expected to be completed in two years.
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