News Release
| Release Number: | 05-163 |
| Dated: | 12/13/2005 |
| Contact: | Mike McAleer, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this month took additional steps to protect the integrity of the Mouth of the Columbia River federal navigation channel.
On Dec. 2, the Corps released a solicitation for bids for the Mouth of the Columbia River South Jetty Interim Repair. 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 earlier this month.
Repair of the north jetty took about seven months and involved the placement of 58,000 tons of stone along the most severely damaged sections of the jetty. The average size for individual jetty stones for the north jetty was about 10 tons.
Lance Helwig, project manager for the MCR jetties repair said, “The interim repair contract for the south jetty will last two years with scheduled completion in October 2007. We expect the contractor to place upwards of 130,000 tons of jetty stone over a 5,300-foot long repair area on the south jetty.”
Bids for the project will be accepted until 4 p.m. Jan. 3, 2006. Award of the contract is expected in February with work scheduled to start in early spring. The request for proposals can be obtained on the web at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/ebs/AdvertisedSolicitations.asp.
Additionally, on Dec. 9 the Corps announced the issuance of a Solicitation for Bids for potential emergency response and repairs on the north and south jetties at the Mouth of the Columbia River should a breach occur this winter.
Helwig said, “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.” 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.
After careful review of the potential impacts to the region, the Corps’ Portland District, Northwestern Division and headquarters agreed to have in place a competitively-bid emergency repair contract that can be acted on within 24 hours should a breach occur.
Bids for the MCR North and South Jetties Emergency Repair Contract (Breach Contingency) must be received by 4 p.m. Dec. 16, 2005. The request for proposals can be obtained on the web at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/ebs/AdvertisedSolicitations.asp.
A pre-bid site tour for prospective contractors on both contracts is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 14 at the Shilo Inn in Warrenton. Ore.
More information about the Corps’ work on the MCR jetties can be viewed on the web at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/issues/jetty/home.asp.