Maintenance dredging of a portion of the Saco River Federal navigation project (FNP) in Biddeford and Saco, Maine, will be completed under the terms of a $3.9 million contract issued recently by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District.
The dredging work, to be accomplished by H&L Contracting, Inc. LLC, of Bay Shores, New York, is scheduled to start in mid-December 2018 and take about 3 months to complete.
“ The project consists of hydraulically dredging a portion of the Federal navigation channel at the mouth of the Saco River which includes an 8-foot deep entrance channel and three 6-foot deep anchorages,” said Project Manager Craig Martin , of the Corps’ New England District, Programs/Project Management Division in Concord, Massachusetts.
Approximately 41,000 cubic yards of required dredging, with another 36,000 cubic yards of 1-foot allowable over depth dredging would bring these areas back to their authorized dimensions. Sandy shoal material dredged from the mouth of the river will be pumped approximately 8,000 feet north to Camp Ellis Beach.
Additionally, a contract option to mechanically dredge a portion of the FNP’s 8-foot deep channel and 6-foot deep maneuvering basin at the city center in Saco is included.
Approximately 22,000 cubic yards of required, and another 13,000 cubic yards of 1-foot allowable over depth dredging of predominantly fine grain sand and silty shoal material will be completed by mechanical dredge and hauled 1.25 miles south to a previously used in-river placement site for disposal.
Dredging and disposal operations will be performed between Nov. 15, 2018 and March 15, 2019 to meet environmental time of year restrictions.