News Release
| Release Number: | 06-029 |
| Dated: | 3/9/2006 |
| Contact: | Mike McAleer, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded two contracts in an effort to take steps to protect the integrity of the Mouth of the Columbia River (MCR) federal navigation channel.
On Feb. 16, the Corps awarded a contract for the Mouth of the Columbia River South Jetty Interim Repair to Kiewit Pacific, of Vancouver, Wash. A Congressional appropriation of $17 million will allow the interim repair of the south jetty to begin in the spring, on the heels of successful completion of the north jetty interim repair in 2005. The base contract was awarded for $11.4 million to repair the inland reach of the jetty with options of about $7.7 million that may be exercised for repairs to the seaward reach.
Lance Helwig, project manager for the MCR jetty project said, “The interim repair contract for the south jetty will be in two phases with the inland phase scheduled for completion in October 2006 and the seaward reach completed in 2007.” Helwig said. “The contractor will place upwards of 130,000 tons of jetty stone in the two areas that extend over a 5,300-foot-long section on the south jetty.”
After careful review of the potential impacts to the region, the Corps agreed to have in place an emergency repair contract this winter that could be acted on within 24 hours should a breach occur, Helwig said.
The Corps awarded a contract to Rognlins Inc., of Aberdeen, Wash., on Jan. 18 for potential emergency response and repairs on the north and south jetties at the Mouth of the Columbia River should a breach occur through April 30. Rognlins has already completed a haul road to the south jetty as part of the contract.
“Because of the deteriorated state of the MCR jetties, especially the south jetty, the Corps felt is was necessary to prepare for an emergency response,” Helwig said. Currently there is about a 20 percent probability of a breach. While a breach is not imminent, response time to plug the breach is critical to minimizing possible impacts to the federal navigation channel, as well as limit further deterioration to the jetty structure.
Additionally, a public informational meeting on the south jetty repair is scheduled for Thursday, March 23, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Shilo Inn, Columbia Room, located at 1609 East Harbor Drive, Warrenton, Ore., to discuss the upcoming work and hauling of rock for the project.
More information on the jetty repair is available on the Portland District website at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/jetty