Kiewit will build the first phase of the Port of Nome modification project in Nome, Alaska, according to an Aug. 15 news release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District. The goal is to deepen and expand Nome’s harbor on the state’s western coast to accommodate larger vessels.
Vancouver, Washington-based Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. will construct the first of the four project phases, Phase 1A, with a contract valued at $399.4 million, according to the agency. The City of Nome is also a sponsor of the project, which is funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Nome has no access to major road systems and ship transportation is currently limited by how shallow the existing harbor is, per USACE’s project website. Yearly dredging is required to deepen and maintain both basins and associated navigation channels.
The original harbor was built in 1917, and the expansion effort will serve research and public safety purposes and support the nation’s military presence above the Arctic Circle, according to the agency.
“A robust and efficient transportation hub at Nome is foundational to the long-term viability of surrounding communities in the region,” said Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, commander of the USACE Alaska District, in the release. “We are committed to assisting the City of Nome by providing a reliable solution that improves the port’s navigation efficiency.”
The project scope entails constructing a 1,200-foot causeway extension with about 600 feet of dock face, according to the release. Following this portion of the project, the Phase 2 dredging of the deep and outer basins up to minus 40 feet is scheduled for construction.
