The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, has awarded its second construction contract this year for the Kissimmee River Restoration project, a large-scale Everglades restoration project spanning through Highlands and Okeechobee counties.
The $4.7 million construction contract was awarded to BCPeabody Construction Services Inc. of Tampa, Fla. on Monday, September 28.
The contract, known as the C-38 Reach 3 Backfill and Bass Embankment Degrade contract, will involve backfilling a portion of the channelized Kissimmee River (C-38 Canal) within the upcoming months.
“ Backfilling portions of the C-38 Canal will restore pre-channelized conditions along the Kissimmee River and provide valuable ecological benefits ,” said April Patterson, Jacksonville District project manager. “ It will enable native plants and animals to return to the area and also restore the floodplain to its natural hydrologic function.”
Once backfilling begins, navigation will be interrupted for approximately 1.5 miles along the channelized Kissimmee River beginning at the US 98 bridge and extending south. It is anticipated that backfilling operations will take approximately one year to complete.
Access to the river will remain open at the Istokpoga, S-65C and S-65D boat ramps. However, navigation through the construction zone will be prohibited during this time period.
This is the second construction contract awarded for the Kissimmee River Restoration project this year. The MacArthur Ditch Backfill construction contract was awarded January 15, 2015 to Herve Cody Contractor from Robbinsville, North Carolina and is currently 22 percent complete.