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Projects awarded in 2014 support the Corps’ Great Lakes mission

Published Dec. 1, 2014
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Great Lakes navigation greatly supports the core of North America’s industrial and manufacturing heartland, and is one of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USACE, Detroit District’s highest priorities.

The Detroit District awarded many navigation and construction projects throughout the 2014 year.

   The maintenance dredging projects awarded during fiscal year 2014:

  • Saginaw River in Michigan was awarded to Morrish-Wallace Construction Inc., for $3,019,148.50 with 295,680 cubic yards of sediment being removed. The dredging began at the end of September this year and has a required completion of September 2015.
  • Green Bay Harbor in Wisconsin is the largest dredging project this year with 380,000 cubic yards of sediment being removed. The contract was awarded to the King Company, Inc., for $2,872,348.40 and started in August and dredging was completed mid-November.
  • The Duluth-Superior harbors in Minnesota and Wisconsin project was awarded to Roen Salvage Company for $2,253,900 and will remove 170,100 cubic yards of sediment. This dredging project started in July and finished in mid November.
  • The Detroit River in Michigan was awarded to Morrish-Wallace Construction, Inc. for $1,743,800.  The dredging project started in August and was completed in September; taking 167,000 cubic yards of sediment out of the navigation channel.
  • Sebewaing River in Michigan was awarded to Dean Marine & Excavating, Inc., for $1,361,450 with state of Michigan funds. The dredging of 55,000 cubic yards of sediment started in August and finished in October.
  • Point Lookout Harbor in Michigan was awarded to Malcolm Marine, Inc., for $1,275,000 with money was provided by the state of Michigan. The dredging of 59,000 cubic yards of sediment was completed mid September.
  • Kewaunee and Manitowoc harbors in Wisconsin. Were part of the same  contract and were awarded to Roen Salvage Co., for $1,252,700. From Manitowoc 51,100 cubic yards will be dredged while 32,100 cubic yards were dredged from Kewaunee. Dredging started in Manitowoc around September and moved to Kewaunee and was completed in October.
  • The inner portion of Holland  Harbor in Michigan was awarded to MCM Marine, Inc., for $955,966. The project is complete  with 66,000 cubic yards of sediment being dredged.
  • Grand Haven Harbor along with outer portion Holland Harbor both in Michigan. was awarded to the King Company, Inc., for $1,022,434.37. 35,000 cubic yards were dredged from the outer portion of Holland Harbor and 50,000 from Grand Haven Harbor.
  • The Black River in Michigan was awarded to Malcolm Marine, Inc., for $609,925 to have 27,850 cubic yards of sediment removed. The project began in October of 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in 2015.
  • Kenosha Harbor in Michigan was awarded to Morrish-Wallace Construction Company, Inc., for $592,200. The dredging of 24,800 cubic yards of sediment was completed earlier in July.
  • St. Marys River in Michigan was awarded to Morrish-Wallace Construction, Inc., for $477,500. The dredging started at the beginning of August and ended in late October, by which time they dredged 16,000 cubic yards of sediment.
  • Cheboygan Harbor in Michigan was awarded to Luedtke Engineering Company for $392,000. From November to June 2015 23,000 cubic yards of sediment will be removed.
  • Menominee Harbor which is in both Michigan and Wisconsin was awarded to Luedtke Engineering Company for $358,400. From October 2014 to November 2015, 28,700 cubic yards of sediment will be dredged.
  • Leland Harbor in Mich. was awarded to MCM Marine, Inc., for $163,264. The project was completed in the summer, dredging 21,0 cubic yards of sediment.

“Over time material deposits in the navigation channels and the Corps removes the sediment through dredging contracts to ensure safe and reliable waterborne transportation,” said Jon Imbrunone a project manager in Detroit District’s operations office.

“The navigation mission for USACE is to provide safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation system (channels, harbors and waterways) for movement of commerce, national security needs, and recreation,” Imbrunone said.

There are various ways in which dredging contracts are solicited one of which is a multiple award task order contract, MATOC.

“It’s a quick and easier way for us to advertise and award dredging contracts, because we know exactly who the competitive pool of contractors are and we know their equipment,” said Carlette Williams a contract specialist with the Detroit District’s contract branch. “We also want to make sure they have the capacity and logistical schedule to get to the place that they need to be in order to perform the dredging in the time that we require.”

More than half the dredging contracts awarded during fiscal year 2014 were awarded using the MATOC inluding; Point Lookout Harbor, Holland (inner portion) Harbor, Grand Haven Harbor and Holland (outer portion) Harbor, Black River, Kenosha Harbor, Cheboygan Harbor, Menominee Harbor and Leland Harbor.

In addition, larger construction contracts awarded during fiscal year 2014:

·         The MacArthur Lock modernization was awarded to Windemuller, Inc., for $6,270,195. The project, located at USACE Soo locks facility, will update the electrical and control systems for the lock. The work is expected to start in 2015 and be completed in 2017.

 

·         The Menomonee river ecosystem restoration in Milwaukee, Wis., for $5,250,000 was awarded to C.W. Purpero, Inc. The project goal is to restore fish spawning in the river, in order to do so they will remove approximately 2,400 lineal feet of 8-inch thick concrete lining forming the channel. The project started in October and is expected to be complete by April 2015.

 

·         The Poe Lock gate coating was awarded to Abhe & Svoboda, Inc., for $3,240,060. The project will be completed in a wind resistant, enclosed, climate controlled environment. All work must be completed during lock closure occurring from Jan. 15 to March 19 2015

 

·         The Frankenmuth fish passage located in Saginaw County, Mich., was awarded to CTI and Associates, Inc., for $2,508,373.20. The Frankenmuth Dam prevents the passage of fish upstream to a valuable spawning habitat. The project involves the construction of a rock ramp providing a three percent elevation to the dam which will open up several hundred miles of reproductive territory. The work is expected to be completed before the 2015 winter starts.

 

·         The Unit 10 approach apron in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was awarded to Morrish-Wallace Construction, Inc., for $2,196,500. The current concrete approach over the abandoned old powerhouse structure needs to be rehabbed, and the contract is for both the design and building of the new approach. The work is expected to start in 2015 and be completed no later than the end of February 2017.

 

·         The Kaukauna Dam spillway, walkway and pier replacement located on the Fox River, Wis., was awarded to Upstate Construction Services, Inc., for $930,886. The project includes removing steel bridge spans and installing new galvanized steel bridge spans. The construction will continue along with demolishing, removing and replacing concrete piers. The work is set to begin in the spring next year and should be finished by the fall.

 

·         Cat Island road rehabilitation in Green Bay, Wis., was awarded to Bobbie’s Marine Services, LLC, for $559,736.64. The road rehabilitation and paving was already completed, it is the last Cat Island project.

 

·         Pointe Mouille cell preparation in Monroe County, Mich., was awarded to RBV Contracting, Inc., for $465,472.85. The project includes providing earthwork services for drainage and accessibility and improvement at the Point Mouille confined Disposal facility. The project started in October and is expected to be completed before the end of December.