The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District has awarded a $172.9 million construction contract for the Sacramento Weir Widening Project to Granite Construction Company of Watsonville, California.
The Sacramento Weir Widening Project will add a new 1,500-foot-wide weir adjacent to the existing 1,950-foot-wide structure that has been in place for the last 106 years.
The existing weir’s 48 manually-operated gates will remain intact, and the new passive weir expansion will allow excessive floodwater to spill out of the river channel and into the bypasses on its own.
Lowering the level of the river during high-water events will reduce the flood risk for the Sacramento Metropolitan area, one of the most at-risk regions in the nation for catastrophic flooding.
“We’re excited to get to work on this project that will increase the safety of those living in the area. The Sacramento Weir is a vital part of our flood control infrastructure, and this upgrade will make it more effective at doing its job,” said Project Manager Sean McNei l.
Construction of the Sacramento Weir Widening Project is scheduled to start this summer and is estimated to be completed in December 2026.