CONCORD, Mass. – Dredging of two portions of the Kennebec River Federal navigation project in Bath and Phippsburg, Maine, has started under the terms of a $1,206,800 contract issued recently by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District.

The work is being performed by Cashman Dredging and Marine Contracting Company, LLC, of Quincy, Mass., and will take several weeks to complete. Work started on Aug. 1 and is scheduled to be completed prior to Sept. 1, 2011.

“The project involves maintenance dredging of the Federal navigation project in the vicinity of Doubling Point, just south of Bath, and Popham Beach, at the river mouth,” said Project Manager William Kavanaugh, of the Corps’ New England District, Programs and Project Management Division.

The work involves maintenance dredging of two portions of the authorized 27-foot deep, 500-foot wide Federal navigation project in the lower Kennebec River to remove hazardous shoals from the channel in advance of the transit of the U.S. Navy Destroyer, the USS SPRUANCE, scheduled to depart the Bath Iron Works on or about Sept. 1, 2011.

The dredging involves the removal of about 70,000 cubic yards of clean sandy material from the two areas of the Federal navigation project and disposal of the dredged material at two previously used disposal areas.     

The project is being managed by the Corps’ New England District. All work is being accomplished under the supervision of a Corps of Engineers’ Quality Assurance Representative to assure compliance with contract requirements.

For more information about Corps’ New England District contract solicitations for work, bid results or contract awards visit the website at: http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Business/Contracting/.