In New Iberia, city and parish officials celebrated the groundbreaking of a project that’s been in the works for nearly two decades.

For years this canal has flooded the area near West End Park during heavy rains. Now, officials with Iberia Parish Government and City Council, are working together to build a relief pond, and a pump system to transfer water from the pond to the commercial canal that drains into the Vermilion Bay. Iberia parish councilwoman, Maggie Daniels says this is a project she’s pushing for since she took office more than 16 years ago.

The project will cost the city and parish about $600,000 a piece and should be completed in about a year.