New Jersey Chris Christie announced the competition of a $143 million levee system in Somerset County. Gov. Christie now hopes that residents can drop flood insurance.
"Governor Christie announced Monday that 17 years of work to control flooding in a perilous area of Somerset County is complete," reports Dustin Racioppi, "allowing most residents to drop flood insurance coverage and possibly ushering in a new phase of economic activity."
The Green Brook project required a total of $143 million to install "flood gates, levies and pump stations to protect about 500 structures from the swelling Raritan River." The project began in 1999, the same year "Tropical Storm Floyd's floodwaters tore apart buildings, killed two people and caused more than $80 million in damage in Bound Brook…"
According to Racioppi, there is another $200 million investment needed to protect 13 towns in Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties.
FULL STORY: Christie unveils $143 million system of levees in Somerset County
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