NEW YORK—To make shipping channels deeper and therefore more accessible to the world’s largest ships, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will blast bedrock out of the channels in the coming months.
Other work to deepen waterways and harbors in the area entails dredging. The main waterway is in the Arthur Kill between Elizabeth, NJ, and the New York Container Terminal.
“This 50 foot contract is part of a more extensive harbor-dredging project to create safe and efficient channels for a larger class of vessels that will be calling at the Port of New York and New Jersey,” said Bryce Wisemiller, project manager, in a statement.
Drilling and underwater blasting will start in the area near the container terminal no earlier than July and in the western Port Elizabeth Channel no earlier than April.
Residents in Elizabeth and Bayonne, both in New Jersey, within 1,500 feet of the blasting zone were notified about three weeks ago about the upcoming blasting; Army Corps officials don’t think the blasting will impact any people on Staten Island.
Drilling can take place during a range of hours, but blasting will only happen during daylight hours, or no earlier than two hours after sunrise and no later than one hour before sunset. Also, blasting won’t happen before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on Sundays or federal holidays.
Anyone in the immediate area, especially people likely within 1,5000 feet of the work, can call a hotline, 201-339-6470, with any concerns or issues.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are collaborating on the project, which is scheduled to be complete next year.
