PA Kicks Off $1.6B Project

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers launched a $1.6 billion project to deepen channels in the Port of New York and New Jersey to 50 ft.

The project will improve navigational safety and allow the port to accommodate the next generation of cargo vessels that require deep water to operate and can handle more than 8,000 truck-size containers.

During a signing ceremony at the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal, representatives of the two government agencies finalized an agreement that outlines funding commitments and a timeline for the channel-deepening work. The Port Authority and the federal government will share the construction cost.

The channel deepening program is scheduled for completion in 2014, but Port Authority and Army Corps officials have pledged to try to accelerate the timetable.

The agreement will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to begin to award contracts for the deepening of the Ambrose, Anchorage, Kill van Kull, Newark Bay, Arthur Kill, Port Jersey and Bay Ridge channels to 50 ft.

The Army Corp is currently completing a project to deepen the Kill van Kull, Newark Bay and Elizabeth channels to 45 feet, which is scheduled for completion in summer 2004. The Army Corps is in the middle of deepening the Arthur Kill Channel to 41 ft., scheduled for completion in 2005.

PA to Study Airport Expansion

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey board of commissioners authorized planning studies to modernize and expand the Central Terminal Building at LaGuardia Airport and Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The studies will help the Port Authority develop plans to meet projected growth in the number of passengers. LaGuardia is expected to handle more than 30 million passengers a year sometime between 2015 and 2020, up from 22.5 million in 2003, while Newark Liberty is projected to reach 45 million annual passengers between 2015 and 2020, up from 29.4 million in 2003.

The studies, estimated to cost $20 million at Newark and $15 million at LaGuardia, are expected to be completed by 2007.

Water Work Planned for NJ Township

Through its appointment as engineer of record for the Township of Lower Municipal Utility Authority, Schoor DePalma will perform six separate projects in the Villas section of the township.

Project work in Lower Township includes wetlands delineation, design of a one million gallon elevated water tank, design and construction of two replacement wells and development of a vulnerability assessment and emergency response plan. These improvements are based on the township's water master plan. The master plan cited the current state and stipulated future needs of the township's water infrastructure. Other improvements include the replacement of an existing sanitary sewer pump station.