4 replies to this topic

[BOOBMAN]

Channel dredging set to begin Monday
After more than a decade, construction crews are ready to give the Bridgewater Channel a little bit of a makeover.
Crews with Technology Construction are expected to begin work on the Bridgewater Channel Dredging project Monday, which consists of the removal of the Pima Wash Fan in Thompson Bay and maintenance dredging of the south portion of the Bridgewater Channel, according to a press release. Crews will use the bowl area of Rotary Community Park as a dewatering site for the dredged material Oct. 25. The current construction schedule has the hydraulic dredge equipment arriving on site Nov. 1, “at which time the contractor will shift the project focus to the Bridgewater Channel maintenance dredging (south portion of the channel)” according to the release. City Public Works Director Mark Clark said he expects the project to finish by Dec. 1.

“The City Council gave us direction that it was to be done before 2011,” he said previously. “They wanted us to get this project done, so it’s a priority to them and that’s what we’re going to do.”

The Bridgewater Channel’s south end will be closed to boat traffic when work is occurring and will be reopened at around 6 p.m. each day, according to the release. Closures to portions of Rotary Park’s trail systems will occur at various times throughout the project and city officials ask that everyone be aware of the construction activities and obey the construction signage when using the park amenities.

That’s for the actual dredging in the Channel itself,” Clark said. “There will be a floating dredge out there and there’s no way for that to happen and not have occasional closures.”

Utilizing Rotary Park as the site for dewatering is expected to have no effect on the potential future location of the proposed Tinnell Memorial Skate Park. The City Parks and Recreation Advisory board unanimously approved a recommendation to relocate the skate park last month.

“It doesn’t effect (the skate park) one way or another,” Clark said. “If they choose to relocate the skate park, we’ll leave some of the sand there. If not, we won’t need it there and we’ll haul it off.”

The City Council previously approved the $356,381 project during its regular meeting in September. Clark indicated during the meeting that he had concerns that Technology Construction was the only bidder on the project and that the company does not have previous experience with dredging. But Clark said recently that the company is in good standing, has all of the required licensing and provided “satisfactory” references for the project. Once the dredging is complete, Clark said he does not expect the city to pursue additional work.

“This completes the work as far as city staff is concerned,” he said, adding that staff previously looked into an additional $200,000 for dredging the north end of the Channel. “We had just designed the other project in case it was determined that it was necessary but that area won’t need to be dredged for a while.”

City staff previously attempted to complete the dredging in 2009, but difficulties in securing a permit with the Army Corps of Engineers delayed the project. Also, environmental restrictions related to fish eggs along the beach prohibit any work between January and June. While dredging isn’t immediately necessary, said Jim Salscheider in September, Lake Havasu Marine Association executive director, the project would make navigating the Channel easier for boaters.

“It hasn’t been dredged since 1996 and over time, it gets shallower and shallower,” he said previously. “It could become a significant issue at the south end of the channel where Thompson Bay is. Luckily we didn’t have any major storms this summer, but when we do, a lot of sediment comes down Pima Wash and makes it really shallow for boats to get through. … If you wander to one side or the other too far, you’re going to hit the bottom. If we can get this done it will make a big difference next summer.”

[djhartley2003]

Has this been started? Just wandering if there are any updates.

[djhartley2003]

any updates?

[BOOBMAN]

djhartley2003, on 08 November 2010 - 12:05 PM, said:

any updates?

Not yet. Has anyone gone to Havasu lately?

[marcijo]

BOOB MAN, on 11 November 2010 - 05:35 PM, said:

Not yet. Has anyone gone to Havasu lately?

We were there two weeks ago and saw the dredger at the south end by Rotery Park. It was the weekend so no one was working on it. We are going out early tomorrow morning, so I will check on the progress and take pics if it looks like there is a change.

Everyone have a great Thanks Giving....