Phase 1 HESCO Reconstruction and Repairs Now Complete  

The City and Borough of Juneau (CBJ) Engineering & Public Works department is pleased to share that the work on the Phase 1 HESCO Reconstruction and Repair project was completed this week.  

The Phase 1 HESCO reconstruction project utilized documented damage reports and river behavior from the 2025 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), along with the latest available hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to identify where the original barriers installed in 2025 needed to be repaired, replaced, reinforced and raised before a 2026 GLOF.  The completed project, which includes additional bank armoring, is designed to protect Mendenhall Valley residents from future floods up to 63,500 cubic feet per second (CFS) or approximately an 18-foot lake stage flood.  

The 2026 project work mobilized in March of this year with a slow start due to the late snow and cold spring. However, the project finished on time and is anticipated to come in under the $14.8 million project budget. A map showing planned reinforcements and raising of Phase 1 is available at  bit.ly/cbjglof. 

CBJ staff and contractors will continue to work in the area finishing final project cleanup, double checking drainage improvements and inspecting and monitoring the barriers over the coming weeks. There are currently several gaps in the barriers for pedestrian access. CBJ will begin to close the access gaps during the week of July 20. 

For more information, please contact [email protected].