FORT NORFOLK, Va. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District awarded a maintenance dredging contract to Manson Construction Co. for the Chesapeake Bay Thimble Shoal Channel in Virginia, Friday.
The dredging is slated to maintain 11 miles of the channel to a depth of 52 feet for the average height of the lowest tide, with one foot of allowable overdepth.
According to Steve Powell, Norfolk District project manager, removal of the maintenance material will assist deepening projects in the near future for the Virginia Port Authority – the project’s local sponsor.
About 1.73 million cubic yards of dredged material are scheduled for a placement area at the Dam Neck Ocean Disposal Site. The fine-grain material is unsuitable for beach nourishment and instead is slated for ocean disposal.
Powell said the district’s next step is issuing a notice to proceed, anticipating the contractor will commence shortly thereafter.
A hopper dredge will be used, causing no impact to navigation, due to its full sailing capability.
The federal navigation channel project is scheduled begin within the next 30 days and finish by the end of August.