Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company (GLDD), a dredging contractor from Oak Brook, Illinois, has won a $26.2 million contract for maintenance dredging of Fire Island Inlet and Shores Westerly to Jones Inlet.
Bids were solicited via the internet with three received, reports the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
“Work will be performed in Copiague, New York, with an estimated completion date of April 10, 2019 ,” according to an official statement from DoD.
The proposed maintenance dredging and beach nourishment work will involve dredging and placement of approximately 2,100,000 cubic yards of sand at Gilgo Beach, NY.
The project is scheduled to be dredged to a depth of 14 feet plus 2 feet allowable over-depth or deeper based on the availability of material.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, is the contracting activity.
Protecting the critical erosion area
Fire Island Inlet and Shores Westerly to Jones Inlet project is a multi-purpose project that provides navigation and shore protection benefits through the periodic maintenance dredging of Fire Island Inlet with placement of dredged sand along the shoreline several miles west ohf the inlet at the designated barrier island’s critical erosion area.
Although it does not have any commercial navigation transiting this asset, the inlet is the homeport to USCG station Fire Island, has a fleet of 35 commercial charter boats, and state park marina.