OSWEGO – The New York State Department of Transportation today announced the completion of the third of five projects awarded to the Port Authority of Oswego, as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI).
The project addressed high water damage to the north end of the Port Authority’s East Operating Dock, which is located directly on Lake Ontario and highly susceptible to wave action and flooding. During high water events, the existing stone retaining wall failed to break waves, resulting in a breach of the wall and direct undercutting of the main dock.
“The completion of the East Operating Dock project provides greater protection from potential flooding issues that have been prevalent at the Port of Oswego and immediate area for some time,” said Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay. “Stabilizing the dock and ensuring the safety of users is critical for the continued growth of this important regional, state and international economic hub. This important project will restore confidence in our residents and communities that higher Lake Ontario water levels will not damage port activities and negatively impact local businesses.”
The REDI Commission awarded this project $300,000. In total the Port Authority of Oswego has been awarded $2,310,000 for five resiliency projects.
Mitigation measures for the East Operating Dock project included installing a cellular steel sheeting wall to break high water wave action in the impacted area, protecting the north end of the dock. The Port of Oswego is a leading international port, which supports nearly 120 vessels, allowing more than one million tons of cargo to pass through the port each year.
“The completion of work on the East Operating Dock will ensure the safety of our employees and ensure that the vital work that we do here continues without interruption,” said Port of Oswego Authority Director Bill Scriber. “Thank you to Governor Cuomo and the REDI Commissioner for recognizing the magnitude of these projects, no matter how small the scope of work, and for their swift action and continued support.”
The preservation of the East Operating Dock is key to the economic vitality of the Port of Oswego Authority. This project will protect the integrity of the dock, ensuring continued operation and maintaining public safety. Additional REDI funded projects at the Port Authority are anticipated to continue this year.
“During this challenging time the Board of the Port Authority is grateful for the assistance and support of New York State as we continue to move forward with operations here in Oswego,” said Port of Oswego Authority Board Chairman Amy Tressider. “The completion of the East Operating Dock project is a crucial part of this progress. We appreciate the Governor’s continued support of shoreline communities as we deal with the issues created by our unpredictable weather conditions on our Great Lake Ontario.”
In addition to the East Operating Dock, other projects completed under the REDI Commission at the Port of Oswego include $40,000 for the installation of new, self-adjusting docks to replace docks that were at a fixed elevation, and nearly $150,000 for shoreline stabilization measures along the West Pier where high water and excessive wave action had negatively impacted the berm.
“I congratulate the Port of Oswego on the completion of one of their REDI projects,” said City of Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow. “The REDI program continues to do great work along our shoreline, protecting our most important assets and preventing future damage from occurring from high water levels and flooding. Without the assistance and funding from the REDI program, these projects wouldn’t be possible. I thank Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature, along with the REDI Commission, for their continued focus and assistance with making these projects a reality. “
These investments also complement $15 million in State funding announced by Governor Cuomo toward the construction of the Central New York Agriculture Export Center at the Port of Oswego. The Port handles more than one million tons of imports and exports annually by cargo ships. One of the fastest growing commodities exported from the Central New York Region around the world is agricultural products, including corn and soybeans, and this investment will restore the Port’s full functionality and help make the region more globally competitive by providing central New York agribusinesses access to world export markets for less than they would spend to truck commodities to other seaports.
“The Port of Oswego is an economic engine for Central New York, supporting both jobs and commerce,” said New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “The smart investments being made through Governor Cuomo’s REDI Commission are helping the Port of Oswego harden its infrastructure to remain globally competitive.”
In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, Governor Cuomo created REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns.
“The Port of Oswego project milestone announced today is a prime example of what Governor Cuomo’s REDI program is accomplishing in support of the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence River region economies,” said New York State Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destitio. “After experiencing a year like the one we had in 2020, it is especially gratifying to celebrate not only the completion of this project but also the cooperative effort among state, local, and business leaders in the community that ensured its success.”
The REDI Commission allocated $20 million for homeowner assistance, $30 million to improve the resiliency of businesses, and $15 million toward a regional dredging effort that will benefit each of the eight counties in the REDI regions. The remaining $235 million has been allocated towards local and regional projects that advance and exemplify the REDI mission.
The State Department of Transportation was the lead agency on the East Operating Dock project. For more information on the Port of Oswego Authority projects and other REDI projects in the Oswego County Region, please click here.
“Completion of work on the Port of Oswego Authority’s East Operating Dock not only strengthens critical infrastructure, it also strengthens our future economy by helping to ensure activity at the port can safely continue,” said Senator Patty Ritchie. “This project is yet another important piece of the puzzle when it comes to recovering from the record flooding of recent years, and I am pleased to see it become a reality.”
For more information about the Port of Oswego Authority, click here.
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