A Decade in the Making: The West Lumberton Floodgate
On October 7, 2026, community leaders, project partners, and elected officials gathered to dedicate the new West Lumberton Floodgate, marking a major milestone in the City of Lumberton. The dedication coincided with the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Matthew, a storm that forever changed the community and exposed critical vulnerabilities in the area's flood protection system.
For the people of Lumberton, the floodgate represents much more than a new piece of infrastructure. It represents a decade of planning, collaboration, funding efforts, engineering, and construction driven by a shared commitment to protecting lives, homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure from future flood events. What was once a devastating reminder of the community's vulnerability now stands as a symbol of resilience, recovery, and proactive investment in a safer future.
Closing a Critical Gap in Lumberton's Flood Protection System
The need for the West Lumberton Floodgate became evident following Hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018, when floodwaters entered West and South Lumberton through a critical opening where the CSX rail line passes beneath Interstate 95. This gap in the city's flood protection system allowed floodwaters to travel into populated areas, causing extensive damage to homes, businesses, and community infrastructure.
Designed to close that vulnerability, the floodgate can be mechanically deployed within minutes, helping prevent floodwaters from entering the city through the Interstate 95 and CSX railroad corridor. Once activated, the system provides an additional layer of protection for residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure located behind the levee system.
The project is located near VFW Road where it passes beneath Interstate 95 in West Lumberton. Its completion represents a significant advancement in the city's long-term flood mitigation strategy and complements broader resiliency initiatives implemented throughout Robeson County in response to recurring storm events.
Partnerships, Persistence, and a Shared Vision
Approximately $15 million was funded for this project through a combination of sources, including the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency's Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery Program (CDBG-DR), the North Carolina Department of Commerce's Community Development Block Grant-Neighborhood Revitalization Program (CDBG-NR), the Golden LEAF Foundation, state appropriations, and the US Economic Development Administration.
As a subconsultant to Atkins Global, McGill was proud to support the project through surveying, roadway design, drainage improvements, utility relocation coordination, hydraulic analyses, permitting support, public involvement, grant administration, and construction administration services. Throughout design and construction, our team worked closely with the City of Lumberton, Crowder Construction Company, funding partners, and CSX Transportation to overcome challenges associated with constructing critical infrastructure within an active rail corridor.
The successful completion of the project is a testament to what can be accomplished through collaboration and innovation. By combining thoughtful engineering, skilled construction, and strong partnerships, the project team delivered a long-term solution that will help protect residents, businesses, and critical infrastructure for decades to come. As Lumberton continues to grow and recover from the impacts of past storms, the West Lumberton Floodgate stands as a lasting investment in the community's future and a powerful example of resilience in action.
To learn more about McGill’s Water Resources Team reach out to Michael Hanson, PE, LEED AP, Vice- President / Regional Manager, at michael.hanson@mcgillassociates.com.
