JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is pleased to announce that the Jacksonville Harbor deepening project is officially underway as contractors began dredging Contract “A” - the first of multiple construction contracts that will deepen the existing federal navigation channel from 40 to 47 feet.
“We are very pleased to initiate construction on this nationally significant project,” said Jacksonville District Commander Col. Jason Kirk. “Extensive work has been done to prepare for this project, including modeling and project studies containing the best scientific information available.”
“The Jacksonville Harbor deepening project ensures our nation’s infrastructure stays strong, which in turn boosts the United States economy, bolsters global competitiveness, creates jobs, and reduces risk.”
Contract A includes dredging around three-million cubic yards of material from the entrance channel (Bar Cut-3) to slightly west of the Mayport Ferry (Cut 7). The contractor will transport the excavated material and place it in the Jacksonville Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site located about six miles southeast of the entrance channel jetties. Work will occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week until completion. The current contract completion date for Contract A is July 31, 2019.
In addition to dredging, the work involves turbidity/sedimentation monitoring (environmental monitoring before and during construction to determine direct and indirect effects associated with construction activities), endangered species and marine life observers.
For more information about this project, please visit www.saj.usace.army.mil and click ports in the right column. The district will provide completed environmental reports and monitoring efforts on this site as information becomes available.
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Release no. 18-006