Posted on May 22, 2019
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $1.13 million contract for dredging of the federal navigation channel in Fairport Harbor.
The Buffalo District of the Corps of Engineers recently chose Luedtke Engineering Co. of Frankfort, Michigan, as the contract recipient. Terms of the pact call for about 180,000 cubic yards of sediment material to be dredged this summer.
It’s anticipated that the contractor will begin work in July, with dredging to be performed throughout the navigation channel. Project depths are 25 feet in the entrance and outer harbor, 24 feet in the lower Grand River, 21 feet in the upper portion of the river, and 18 feet in the turning basin.
The dredging project comes as good news for Fairport Harbor Village, Mayor Timothy Manross said.
“The harbor plays a key role in the local economy, and keeping this critical channel navigable and well maintained will clear the way for job creation and economic development, and will support our partnerships with business entities as we develop our waterfront,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge Township, noted that Fairport Harbor is the largest natural harbor in Lake County.
“The Army Corps of Engineers’ regular dredging not only keeps the harbor clear, but also ensures it can continue to put money back into our regional economy,” he said.
The frequency of dredging in Fairport is subject to the availability of funding, a news release from the corps stated. Fairport Harbor was last dredged in 2017, removing about 255,000 cubic yards of material. The Corps of Engineers schedules dredging every one to two years there in order to maintain federally authorized depths, the news release added.
“This contract award will improve the ability to support commercial traffic and provide safer navigation for commercial vessels in Fairport Harbor,” said Lt. Col. Jason Toth, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District commander. “We do not do anything alone, so the advocacy of Congressman Joyce, as well as other state and local partners, who have worked hard to secure funding for the effort, is greatly appreciated.”
Fairport Harbor is a deep draft commercial harbor that supports the shipping and receiving of commodities, including limestone, sand and gravel, and salt, the news release stated. The harbor generates about $137.4 million in business revenue annually, and supports 1,162 direct, indirect, and induced jobs that produce over $69.5 million per year in personal income for transportation-related industries.
Source: news-herald.com
