Posted on May 2, 2019
Buffalo, NY – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Buffalo District awarded a $1.1 million contract to conduct dredging of the federal navigation channel and harbor areas in Ashtabula Harbor during summer 2019.
The contract was awarded to Ryba Marine Construction Company, based in Cheboygan, Michigan on April 10, 2019. Under this contract and a subsequent November 2018 $1M contract, approximately 430,000 cubic yards of material is to be dredged this year. The contractor is anticipated to begin work in July 2019 with dredging to be performed in the outer harbor and lake approach channel.
“Ashtabula Harbor is an important part of Northeast Ohio, supporting over 1,500 jobs and generating more than $120 million annually in revenue,” said Rep. Dave Joyce. “The Army Corps of Engineers’ regular dredging not only keeps the harbor clear, but also ensures it can continue to put money back into the Ashtabula community and drive our regional economy. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I’m proud to fight for the funding that supports these critical maintenance efforts and thank the Army Corps of Engineers’ for all they do for the Buckeye State.”
The frequency of dredging in Ashtabula is subject to the availability of funds and when sufficient funding is in place. Ashtabula Harbor was last dredged in 2017, removing approximately 175,000 cubic yards of material. The Corps of Engineers schedules dredging every 2-3 years in Ashtabula Harbor in order to maintain federally authorized depths. The outer harbor has authorized depths between 22 and 30 feet, while the Ashtabula River channel has authorized depths between 16 and 30 feet.
As a major receiving and shipping port on the Great Lakes, Ashtabula Harbor supports transportation of 4.3 million tons of commodities such as coal, iron ore, limestone, chemicals, ores and minerals.
“This contract award will improve the ability to support commercial traffic and provide safer navigation for commercial vessels,” said Lt. Col. Jason Toth, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District commander. “We are grateful for the advocacy of Congressman Joyce, as well as other state and local partners, who have worked hard to secure funding for the effort. We look forward to assisting the community with any future projects to improve harbor infrastructure.”
Source: dvidshub.net
