Posted on October 22, 2018
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold two public hearings on a project that would deepen the New Haven Harbor shipping channel.
The New Haven Harbor navigation project’s main ship channel, maneuvering area, and turning basin are authorized to a depth of -35 feet mean lower low water. The main ship channel is about 5 miles long extending from deep water in Long Island Sound to the terminals at the head of the harbor.
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“Deeper and wider channels, maneuvering area, and turning basin are needed to increase the navigation efficiency and safety of New Haven Harbor,” the Corps said in a release. “To reach the terminals, larger ships must lighter outside the breakwaters and/or experience delays while waiting for favorable tide conditions, or both.”
The proposed improvements would remove about 4.28 million cubic yards of predominately glacially deposited silts from the federal channel. Additionally, approximately 43,500 cubic yards of rock would be blasted and removed from the channel.
The two public hearings will focus on a feasibility report and environmental impact statement (both can be read here).
This study was initiated at the request of the New Haven Port Authority and the Connecticut State Port Authority.
The hearings will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Harry M. Bailey Middle School at 106 Morgan Lane in West Haven and Wednesday, Oct. 24. at the Hall of Records Hearing Room at 200 Orange Street in New Haven. Doors and registration open at 5:30 p.m.; hearings begin at 6:30 p.m.
Source: New Haven Register
