Project cost estimate

Summary construction program (PB−1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965

Item

Mr. KIRWAN. Please explain the $12,460,000 cost increase on this project. You seem to be having some difficulty with respect to local contributions.

General DALRYMPLE. As to the increase in cost, the current Federal estimate is $32,160,000, and that is an increase of $12,460,000 over last year.

About $1 million of that is for revised cost-sharing provisions in the 1962 act. Almost $5 million is for increased unit prices due to higher dredge operating costs and an increased regional demand for dredging plant; $6.6 million is for increased quantities of sand fill over the entire project length of 83 miles. This has been partially due to accelerated storm erosion, such as the storm of March 1962 which actually cut through the barrier reef in many places.

The local cooperation has been taken care of now. The State of New York is the cooperating agency. They have to work out arrangements with the county involved. The county pays half the nonFederal costs; the State pays the other half. The State has assured us that it will cooperate. We are ready to go, and I think we will let our first contract in May of this year.

OTHER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Mr. KIRWAN. Please insert in the record the justifications for the rest of the Construction, General projects.

(The justifications follow:)

DELAWARE RIVER, PA., N.J., AND DEL., PHILADELPHIA TO THE SEA

(ANCHORAGES)

(Continuing)

Location. These four anchorages adjacent to the Delaware River channel are spaced 9 to 13 miles apart in the 36-mile reach between the entrance to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and Schuylkill River. Authorization.-1958 River and Harbor Act.

The anchorages are an integral part of the Delaware River improvement and are primarily warranted for the safety and convenience of navigation by the benefits accruing from the elimination of hazards to life and property. Maritime interests have repeatedly pointed out the critical problems encountered by ships due to lack of adequate anchorages particularly when visibility is reduced, ships are in distress, and awaiting tide, berthing space, or quarantine inspection.

At present there are no anchorages wide enough to accommodate ships longer than 550 feet without danger of swinging into the channel with a change in tide. The present trend is toward larger and deeper draft ships. Completion of the

40-foot channel above Philadelphia to Newbold Island, and the incerase in traffic generated by this improvement make the need for improved anchorages more urgent. Enlargement of the existing anchorages as Marcus Hook and Mantua Creek and construction of additional anchorages at Deepwater Point and Reedy Point as authorized will meet the requirements of the larger ships without endangering traffic in the main ship channel. Commerce on the Delaware River in 1962 was about 105,700,000 tons.

Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $3,750,000 will be applied toContinue enlargement of Marcus Hook Anchorage_ Enigneering and design_____

Supervision and administration___

Total____

$3,480,000 90,000 180, 000

3,750,000

The budget request provides for continuing the enlargement of Marcus Hook anchorage.

Completed modifications

Channel 35 feet deep from Delaware Bay to Allegheny Avenue and six anchorages at a cost of $17,834,000; channel 40 feet deep from Delaware Bay to Philadelphia Naval Base, at a cost of $9,119,000; enlarging Marcus Hook and Mantua Creek anchorages and deepening to 37 feet, at a cost of $3,715,000; and channel 40 feet deep and 400 feet wide from Philadelphia Naval Base to Allegheny Avenue at a cost of $5,462,000.

Other authorized work remaining to be done

The portion of the channel between the naval base and Allegheny Avenue 37 feet deep and 600 feet wide, including deepening Port Richmond anchorage to 37 feet deep, remains to be done, at an estimated cost of $2,951,000. This work has been deferred for restudy.

Non-Federal cost.-The initial investment required of local interests in construction of the authorized anchorages is estimated at $1,280,000 for the lowering of pipelines crossing Marcus Hook and Mantua Creek anchorages.

Status of local cooperation.-Federal permits under which the pipelines were constructed specify that, if necessary in the interest of navigation, the owners will be required to alter the work without cost to the United States. Lowering of the pipelines will be required as progress of work on the anchorages necessitates. The pipeline owners have been notified of the scheduled dredging and requested to lower the pipelines and to submit plans for the work.

Comparison of Federal cost estimates.-The current Federal cost estimate of $29 million is an increase of $900,000 over the latest estimate ($28,100,000) submitted to Congress. This change includes $600,000 for higher price levels and $300,000 due to changes from more detailed planning.

Summary construction program (PB-1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965

INLAND WATERWAY FROM DELAWARE RIVER TO CHESAPEAKE BAY, DEL. AND MD. (PT. II-35-FOOT CHANNEL AND ANCHORAGES AND REPLACE 2 BRIDGES)

(Continuing)

Location. The waterway extends from Reedy Point on the Delaware River about 41 miles below Philadelphia, Pa., through a land-cut westward to Elk River thence following Elk River and upper Chesapeake Bay to deep water in Chesapeake Bay, a distance of 46 miles. Part I of the project which provided for construction of a new high level highway bridge over the canal at Summit, Del., was completed in January 1960.

Authorization.-1954 River and Harbor Act.

Benefit-cost ratio.-2 to 1 for the entire canal improvement authorized by the 1954 River and Harbor Act.

1 In addition, local interests have expended $230,000 for approach rights-of-way for previously reconstructed bridges.

PHYSICAL DATA

Channel: Delaware River to Chesapeake Bay 35 feet deep, 450 feet wide, 46 miles long.

Anchorages: Elk River 35 feet deep, 1,200 feet wide, 3,700 feet long.
Bridges:

Pennsylvania Railroad (vertical lift).

Reedy Point Highway (fixed high-level).
Clearances:

This waterway connects Delaware River and the port of Philadelphia with Chesapeake Bay and the ports of Baltimore and Norfolk. Oceangoing vessels traveling between Baltimore and Philadelphia formerly were forced to journey by way of Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic Ocean, and Delaware Bay. A saving of

286 nautical miles is realized, nearly a day's travel time, by vessels using the project between these cities; also, in travel between Baltimore and other ports to the northeast, the canal saves 150 miles to New York and New England ports and 115 miles to north European ports. The deepening, widening, and realinement of the waterway, and the removal of restrictive bridges will allow full and economical use of the waterway by vessels transporting and existing and prospective commerce of the area. The project will also reduce the hazards of navigating the existing waterway. During 1962 the foreign and domestic commerce transported through the waterway amounted to some 9,254,700 tons. The principal commodities were petroleum and petroleum products; general cargo; ores, iron and steel, and steel products; and acids and chemicals. Upon completion of the authorized improvements, it is anticipated that the average annual tonnage over a 50-year period will increase about 5 million tons.

Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $11,500,000 will be applied toComplete railroad bridge superstructure and continue bridge bypass-- $1,045, 000 Complete channel excavation sections 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 17 and 18,

and dredging sections 19 and parts of 21 and 22_. Continue real estate planning and acquisition__ Continue channel excavation sections 11, 12, and 13_

Initiate construction of Reedy Point Bridge and night lighting system.

Initiate and complete relocation of cemetery, utilities, and structures-

Initiate channel excavation, sections 2 dredging sections 7 through 10 and 20 and 21. Engineering and design____

Supervision and administration____.

Total__.

4, 425, 000 485, 000

3, 000, 000

200, 000 370,000

through 6 and

1, 150, 000

220, 000

605, 000

11, 500, 000

The budget request provides for completion of the new railroad bridge with its channel cutoff, for continuation of land acquisition and channel excavation and dredging, for initiation of construction of new Reedy Point bridge, minor relocations and night lighting along the relocated channel. Elimination of the restrictive railroad bridge crossing and the sharp bends through the adjoining reaches will provide important incremental benefits to navigation. The requested amount provides for orderly progress on closely coordinated activities on rightsof-way, relocations, and sequential construction of dry excavation and dredging to assure maximum benefits with funds applied.

Completed work, 1954 modification (part I)

Construction of a high-level fixed highway bridge across the canal at Summit, Del., was completed in fiscal year 1960 at a cost of $7,429,000.

Completed modifications

Work completed includes a channel 27 feet deep, 250 feet wide from Delaware River to Elk River and 400 feet wide through Elk River and Chesapeake Bay to Pooles Island; high level highway bridges at St. Georges and Chesapeake City; extensions of jetties at Reedy Point; mooring basin at Chesapeake City; revetment of banks; and construction of bulkheads. The cost of this work was $14,520,000.

Remaining authorized modification

A remaining item under the 1935 River and Harbor Act involves the Delaware City Branch Channel 8 feet deep and 50 feet wide with an 8-foot deep basin. The channel, including the basin, has been dredged from Delaware River to a point 400 feet east of Fifth Street Bridge at a cost of $25,000. Restudy is required prior to undertaking further work.

Non-Federal costs.-Local interests are required to furnish rights-of-way needed for replacement of the Reedy Point Bridge. Costs are estimated to be $6,000. Local interests have previously furnished the required rights-of-way for reconstruction of the St. Georges and Chesapeake City Bridges as well as for approaches to Summit Bridge constructed under part I of the authorization. Estimated local cost was $230,000.

Status of local cooperation.—Assurances of compliance with local cooperation requirements, furnished by the State of Delaware, have been accepted. No