NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a contract for more than $2.9 million to Gloucester, Virginia-based Coastal Design & Construction Inc.
The contract calls for constructing an approximately 685-foot-long stone jetty at the entrance of the Tangier Island Federal Navigation Channel, located on the western side of the island.
The contractor has 270 days to complete the construction after the Corps issues a notice-to-proceed. It is up to the contractor to best determine the schedule, manpower and amount of equipment that will be utilized to complete the contract within the period of performance.
“The Norfolk District team is pleased to be able to get this project to the construction phase and look forward to providing the town with an added layer of protection from wave action," said Ashton Burgin, Norfolk District project manager.
The jetty is designed to help limit wave action in the channel and, ultimately, in the harbor where local waterman have crab-processing facilities. Limiting wave action will help reduce the risk of damage to these vital facilities and fishing vessels during storms.
“The mayor, council and residents are all very excited to see this jetty project get started and help with protecting our harbor and channel,” said Laurie Thomas, Tangier town manager.
The Tangier Jetty Project is a Continuing Authorities Project Section 107, which is designated for Navigation Improvement projects, which cost less than $10 million federal dollars. The projects are cost shared 90/10 between the federal government and a local sponsor, which in the case of the Tangier Jetty is the commonwealth of Virginia through the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
The Continuing Authorities Program is just one of the innovative ways that local communities can work with USACE to maximize federal assistance for solving local issues. The program is comprised of nine legislative authorities under which the Corps can plan, design and implement certain types of projects without additional project specific congressional authorization. More information about the CAP program can be found at: https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/CAP/
The Norfolk District’s mission is to provide innovative engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to deliver water resources, military, interagency, environmental, and disaster response programs that make our communities, the commonwealth and the nation a better place to work and live.
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