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The USACE Jacksonville District will begin maintenance dredging of the federal navigation channel (also known as Matanzas Pass) in the vicinity of Fort Myers Beach, Florida, today.
The project is being executed under a $2.9 million contract awarded in June to Cottrell Contracting Corp. of Chesapeake, Virginia, and is expected to be complete in late August or early September.
According to USACE, the project calls for the dredging of approximately 120,000 cubic yards of shoaling from Cuts 1, 2A and 3 of the federal channel, including wideners and settling basin, to a required depth of 12 feet plus 2 feet of allowable over-depth.
All dredged material will be dispersed in a nearshore placement area approximately 8,000 feet south of the dredged channel, progressing from north to south approximately one mile.
The dredge pipe will be weighted and submerged, and its underwater route marked with orange poly balls and lighted danger diamond buoys.
Dredging and placement will be continuous, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until the project is complete, said USACE.