LEWES, Del. (AP) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a $63 million contract to deepen a 17-mile stretch of the Delaware Bay shipping channel off Sussex County.
The News Journal reports the contract was awarded to Weeks Marine Inc. of New Jersey after its original $70 million bid was reduced. Its bid was the lowest of four submitted. All were in excess of the Army Corps' estimate of $52 million for the project.
Army Corps spokesman Edward Voigt says the work is expected to begin in the fall and could continue until spring of 2016. The work is part of a multi-year project to deepen the main shipping channel to 45 feet from its current depth of 40 feet.
Dredged sand will be moved to Broadkill Beach for storm protection.
