In 2023, the Buffalo District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers successfully concluded maintenance and repairs totaling $19.5 million for Cleveland Harbor.
The activities undertaken this year encompassed:
- Annual maintenance dredging in the Cuyahoga River.
- Significant repairs to the harbor’s century-old breakwater, ensuring safe vessel access, facilitating the flow of commodities across the Great Lakes, and sustaining the economic viability of the nation’s waterways.
Lt. Col. Colby Krug, the commander of USACE Buffalo District, emphasized the critical nature of the Corps of Engineers’ mission to support navigation. He expressed pride in completing these projects, reinforcing Cleveland’s public infrastructure to uphold the quality of life, economic prosperity, and national security.
Breakwater Repairs
The annual maintenance dredging commenced in May 2023 and concluded on November 16, spanning spring and fall work periods. USACE, in collaboration with Michigan-based Ryba Marine Construction Company, mechanically dredged 270,000 cubic yards of material. The dredged material was deposited in the Port of Cleveland and USACE confined disposal facilities around the harbor. The cost of this year’s dredging project amounted to $8.95 million, with funding secured for a subsequent dredging operation scheduled to commence in May 2024.
The repair of the west breakwater commenced in June 2022 and reached completion in September 2023. The $10.5 million project, executed by USACE and its contractor, Michigan-based Dean Marine & Excavating, Inc., was fully federally funded.