|
|||||||||||
![]() |
|
![]()
In July 2002, NJDOT/OMR finalized negotiations with the USACE to begin work to deepen the channel to -41 feet and to transfer maintenance responsibility to the federal government. The project requires the removal of over 1.4 million cubic yards of material ranging in both quality and material type from clean sand to contaminated silt. The project is divided into two major areas: the inner channel (between Global and MOTBY) and the outer channel (cutting across the Flats to the Anchorage Channel). Work on the 41 foot channel began in January of 2003 and is currently ongoing, with the outer channel expected to be finished in early 2008. Since the signing of the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the USACE, it has become apparent that the current channel alignment will not be adequate to bring in post-Panamax sized vessels. Because the Harbor Navigation Project (50-foot project) is currently underway, the deepening the Port Jersey Channel to 50-feet will overlap the current 41-foot project. Therefore, it was considered prudent to deepen the 41-foot channel along the proposed 50-foot alignment. The channel realignment, unfortunately, will require removal of a small portion (approximately 12 acres) of the Jersey Flats, an ecologically sensitive, important shallow water habitat. Flounder are known to utilize this area heavily for spawning. NJDOT/OMR and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) have recommended a mitigation strategy where material removed from the Flats will be used to recreate shallow water habitat in areas previously deepened for MOTBY. After extensive ecological evaluation, it was decided to use the south MOTBY channel for the habitat enhancement project. This channel will be filled in from its current depth of -35 feet to a final depth of -15 to -9 feet with only clean, HARS suitable, sediments. Work on this portion of the project is underway and can be viewed via this video clip. Another environmental benefit came from the requirement to offset any air pollution (NOx) generated by the construction. Based on the success of the Port Authority of NY/NJ's tugboat repowering program, NJDOT contracted with the Port Authority to repower tugboats for the Port Jersey deepening. The Port Authority has contracted with two local boat operators to replace outdated, polluting engines in three boats with new, lesser polluting engines. The reduction in pollution (171 tons/yr NOx) will be enough to offset the pollution generated during the project. However, these boats are required to operate largely in the NY/NJ Harbor for at least 10 years, making the air we breathe cleaner long after the construction in complete. Permits from the NJDEP and the USACE were obtained in 2005, but work was delayed due to the determination that the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners' outfall tunnel could be put into jeopardy by the project. The historic structure is a twelve foot diameter tunnel running from Newark, under Newark Bay, through Jersey City and Bayonne and out into New York Bay. It carries an average of 300 million gallons of treated effluent every day. The tunnel, completed early last century, includes a hand poured unreinforced concrete liner. There is no practical way to assess its condition. After almost two years of careful study, NJDOT/OMR and Parsons Brinkerhoff (under contract with NJDOT Design Services) have developed a plan to construct the project and keep the outfall tunnel safe. The material over the tunnel will be excavated in sections, backfilled to grade with crushed stone and capped with 5-inch thick steel plates. These plates will replace the weight that keeps the tunnel from moving. This work is not expected to begin until the late summer of 2009. On July 11, 2007, the District Enginner executed a revised contract with NJDOT/OMR and the Port Authority of NY and NJ to complete the Port Jersey Channel. The next phase of work, removal of more than 3 million cubic yards from the entire channel length (excepting around the PVSC tunnel) is currently under contract to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock. This phase is expected to be largely complete by the end of 2009. For more information, visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Web site. Phase II Action Plan Complete
South Jersey Port Inland
Distribution Network (SJ PIDN) Phase II
In SJ PIDN Phase I, five prospective sites were screened for their
appropriateness for PIDN development and one site was identified as
the most suitable for potential at this time. The purpose of Phase
II of this study is to further define the development of a PIDN site
in South Jersey. Phase II will lead to the development of an Action/Business
Plan that will more concretely specify the requirements necessary
for the establishment of a SJ PIDN with the Camden/northern Gloucester
area as the focus of current SJ PIDN service development. Salem will
continue to be reviewed as a possible secondary SJ PIDN service location
in the future.
|
|||||
|
department: home | about | NJ commuter | in the works | business | engineering | freight, air & water | capital | community | data | links | index | ||
statewide: NJ Home | about NJ | business | government | state services A to Z | departments |
||
Copyright ©
State of New Jersey, 2002-2009 Department of Transportation P.O. Box 600 Trenton, NJ 08625-0600 |
|
|
Last Updated: December 16, 2008 |