More than 60 rail cars of granite blocks arrived recently to begin the West breakwall repair and reconstruction project , it was announced by William Scriber, executive director and CEO, Port of Oswego Authority, (POA). A total of more than 300 rail cars are expected to arrive at the port’s rail yard for the project this year, and in July, the construction company Dean Marine & Excavating, Inc of Michigan will begin placing these blocks in the breakwall.
“The project could not be completed without the resources the Port of Oswego brings to bear,” Scriber said. “Our rail engine and rail yards ensure that project logistics are covered. Over the next two years, we estimate that more than 780 rail cars with stone quarried and shipped from Vermont will be necessary to make the repairs. The largest stones required are 12-14 tons each. In addition, we have the capacity to store these materials at our Fitz storage area, as well as other locations on our property.”
The $35 million project, under the direction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will extend into 2025, and will repair the major portion harbor breakwall— including repairs to the foundation of Oswego’s iconic West Pierhead Lighthouse. The Port requested and received a member item—earmarked federal funding—with the assistance of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to make the critical repairs. These repairs had been held up from the former president’s budget, Scriber said, because the Port does more commercial business than any other upstate New York port and is one of the top five ports in the Great Lakes.
“Tremendous damage was done to the shoreline of the port and the City of Oswego in 2017 and 2019. This project will not only repair the damage and strengthen our breakwall, but it will also mean an influx of workers that positively benefits our local economy. These workers stay local, eat local and buy local. The Port also supplements this contracted labor with our own employees and resources, which means more local jobs and local expenditures on equipment and supplies like diesel fuel.” In addition to the contractor’s labor the local members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), at the port authority are providing critical support with the unloading of the rail cars at the port’s rail yard.
In 2022, a contract was awarded to Dean Marine & Excavating, Mt. Clemens, MI, to complete an underlayer stone on the break wall. That work was completed last fall. Great Lakes Dock and Materials, (GLDM), Muskegon, MI, was awarded a contract in April 2023, of which Dean Marin is a subcontractor, to repair the west breakwall. In August 2023, GLDM was awarded the contract to complete the final 800 feet of the West Arrowhead section. “The Port Is continually advocating for Oswego Harbor and the marine businesses that call It home,” Scriber said. “We have a strong voice at the table and ensure Oswego Is heard not just locally but at the federal level.
A U.S./Canadian research study shows that, over the past five years, The Port of Oswego Authority made a $513 million impact on the local and regional economy and supported 2,229 jobs by its maritime activity. The Port of Oswego generated $201.2 million in wages, salaries, and local consumption expenditures for the regional economy.
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