LONG BEACH, Calif. – Repair work has begun on the three Port of Long Beach/Los Angeles breakwaters that were damaged by heavy seas from Hurricane Marie in late August. The Corps anticipates completion of repairs by late December.
On Sept. 18, the Corps awarded a $5 million contract to Connolly-Pacific Co., of Long Beach, Calif., to repair the 12 most severely damaged sections of the three breakwaters damaged by heavy seas from Hurricane Marie in late August. The contract authorizes 90 days for contract completion. Connolly-Pacific began the work Oct. 8, and expects to finish repairs by year's end, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Jim Fields, the Corps’ project manager for the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, estimates the work will require between 20,000 and 30,000 tons of rock, acquired from the Pebbly Beach quarry on Catalina Island.
The rocks are between 8 and 15 tons each and are placed by crane from an adjacent barge. Each rock is selected for placement according to size and shape and is fit individually with the help of a spotter on the breakwater, who assists the crane operator in properly placing each one.
"The repairs are coming along well, with the contractor providing quality work," Fields said. "It's a good initial step to repairing the damage to the breakwaters. These repairs will afford significantly improved protection for the ports."