USA: Kokosing Construction, O’Brien & Gere Win Indiana Harbor and Canal Dredging Deal

O’Brien & Gere, along with joint-venture partner Kokosing Construction Company, has been awarded a $60.4 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Chicago District. The Kokosing Construction|O’Brien & Gere JV will provide engineering and dredging services in support of the Indiana Harbor and Canal Dredging and Disposal Project in East Chicago, Indiana. The terms of the contract include one base year and four options years.

Due to the presence of contaminated sediments and lack of a suitable storage area for the sediment, the harbor has not been dredged since 1972. The USACE plans to remove about 4.6 million cubic yards of sediment, deepening the channels to restore the harbor and ship canal to navigable depths. This project is designed to dredge and dispose of sediment in a way that is safe to human health, improves the environment, and is economically beneficial.

The project provides for operation of a confined disposal facility (CDF) on an U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) site. In addition to providing permanent storage for the dredged materials, the CDF, which covers 186 acres of a former refinery, will isolate and contain existing on-site soil and groundwater contamination in compliance with RCRA requirements.

Throughout the project, the USACE will require the JV team to maintain real-time air monitoring around the disposal site, as well as the dock where sediment will be transported from barges into the CDF. A website is being prepared to report air monitor findings and inform the community about the ongoing dredging activities.

The Kokosing Construction|O’Brien & Gere JV was selected for the team’s experience in dredging contaminated sludge bottoms and capabilities in the design and operation of water treatment facilities at contaminated sites. O’Brien & Gere, which will serve the JV contract from multiple offices across the Metro, Midwest, and Northeast regions, is providing air monitoring and compliance, water treatment system design, construction management, website design and operations & maintenance services. Kokosing Construction will provide dredging and sediment services along with construction services in support of the water treatment system.

Work under the contract started in October 2011.

About Kokosing Construction Company:

The Kokosing Group is a diversified family owned business that employs over 3,000 people and has facilities and affiliated companies across Ohio and the Midwest. Kokosing has 60 years experience as a self-performing general contractor constructing Industrial Facilities, Manufacturing & Process Plants, Roads, Bridges, Marine work, Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants, Airports, Buildings, Parking Garages, and Underground Utility Systems.

About O’Brien & Gere:

O’Brien & Gere is an employee-owned engineering and project delivery company with over 850 scientists, engineers, construction, and operations personnel located in 30 offices across the U.S. With a 65-year history of applying technology and innovation, O’Brien & Gere is a leader in providing total water, energy, environmental, and facility solutions for its public and private sector clients.

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Dredging Today Staff, February 9, 2012; Image: usace