(KLZA)-- The U.S. Army Cors of Engineers, Omaha District recently awarded a $37.4-million contract to Weston Solutions of Chester, Pennsylvania to close the final breach on the  L-550 levee system breach in Atchison County, Missouri. 

The awarding of this contract keeps the team on track for closing the final breach on the L-550 system along the Missouri River before March 1.

Closing the breach will reduce the life safety risk to the communities and landowners behind the levee system as the 2020 run-off season nears.  However, they add an elevated risk remains with any levee system while damages remain.  

More than 500 miles of levees on the Missouri, Platte and Elkhorn rivers and tributaries were damaged in last years flooding.  

The Corps says due to the amount of damage,   repairs of the entire system will take an extended period of time to complete.