The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, is preparing to release bids for the Boston Harbor Federal Navigation Dredging Project.
According to the Army Corps, they will be issuing an invitation for bids for improvement dredging of the Broad Sound North Entrance Channel, portions of the Main Ship Channel, President Roads Anchorage and portions of the Reserve Channel in Boston, Massachusetts.
Overall, the scheme includes dredging approximately 11,700,000 cubic yards of silt, blue clay, till and weathered rock.
This will improve the following components of the Federal Navigation Project for Boston Harbor: deepening and widening the Broad Sound North Channel to -51 feet Mean Lower, Low Water, deepening and widening the Main Ship Channel to the Conley Terminal including the turning basin or “MSC Notch” to -47 feet MLLW, deepening the President Roads Anchorage and deepening the lower Reserved Channel to -47 feet MLLW, reported the Corps.
The Corps estimates that the tender will be online in early 2018.
So far, USACE has completed 50 navigation projects in Massachusetts. These projects have improved rivers, bays, coves, and harbors that are used by commercial interests and the many recreational boaters that benefit from the intricate and fascinating Massachusetts coastline.
Work on many of the projects dates back to the early 19th century. However, much of the navigational work in today’s waterways has been constructed by the Corps within the past 50 years, costing about $124 million.