Representatives from the Village of Flossmoor, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Homewood-Flossmoor High School (HFHS, District #233) and Calvary Assembly of God Church unveiled the new and restored Cherry Creek East Branch with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 11.
The $3.3 million flood control project, located along Governors Highway, south of 183rd Street and north of Flossmoor Road, includes a variety of improvements designed to remove local homes from the floodplain and benefit the neighboring school and church. The MWRD and village of Flossmoor completed a new 940-foot flood relief channel west of Governors Highway on HFHS property; increased culvert capacity under Governors Highway; improved conveyance from the HFHS pond; and constructed channel improvements on Cherry Creek East Branch.
This project will result in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain map change effective Oct., 26, removing 16 homes and an additional six parcels from the regulatory floodplain. Flooding of portions of Governors Highway and Braemar Road will also be alleviated. See related stories “MWRD’s massive stones, flood project mean dry homes near Homewood/Flossmoor,” and “Officials mark completion of $3.3 million flood-control project in Flossmoor.”