Norfolk District Awards Manson Thimble Shoal Channel Project

In early March, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District awarded a maintenance dredging contract to Manson Construction Co. for the Chesapeake Bay Thimble Shoal Channel in Virginia.

The dredging is slated to maintain 11 miles of the channel to a depth of 52 feet for the average height of the lowest tide, with 1 foot of allowable overdepth. Manson will use a hopper dredge.

According to Steve Powell, Norfolk District project manager, removal of the maintenance material will assist deepening projects in the near future for the Virginia Port Authority – the project’s local sponsor.

About 1.73 million cubic yards of dredged material will be placed at the Dam Neck Ocean Disposal Site. The fine-grain material is unsuitable for beach nourishment and instead is slated for ocean disposal.

Powell said the district’s next step is issuing a notice to proceed, anticipating the contractor will commence shortly thereafter.
The federal navigation channel project is expected to finish by the end of August.