Underground River Discovered In Hammond

HAMMOND, La. (AP) — The City Council has authorized expenses for unexpected work at Hammond Northshore Regional Airport after crews working their dug into what is believed to be an underground river.

The Daily Star reports the council approved an emergency change in the contract for the work to allow for about $25,000 of culverts to be installed underground to get around the river problem.

Hammond city engineer Chuck Spangler says crews were digging a drainage ditch to divert rainwater from flooding an airport runway and encountered the stream, which he says may be an offshoot of the Tangipahoa River.

(Information in the following story is from: The Daily Star, http://www.hammondstar.com)