Norfolk Harbor Overview
The Virginia Port Authority (VPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are partnering to construct the Craney Island Eastward Expansion project. The following paragraphs provide a general overview of the project history.
Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area (CIDMMA Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area (CIDMMA) was authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1946 and constructed from 1956 to 1958. The Federally-owned facility is operated by USACE and is used by private interests, local municipalities, Federal and Commonwealth of Virginia government agencies for the disposal of dredged material from Norfolk Harbor and its adjacent waterways, including the Elizabeth and Nansemond Rivers.
Originally designed for a 20 year life span, USACE began studying ways to extend the life of CIDMMA in the 1970s. Advancements in engineering and management have allowed the USACE to extend the life of CIDMMA. However, in the early 1990s, USACE recognized that other options needed to be considered for long-term disposal of dredge material in Norfolk Harbor. At the same time USACE was looking for additional dredge material placement capacity, the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) recognized that a fourth state owned marine terminal would be required to meet long-term cargo handling needs in Hampton Roads.
In 1997, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure authorized USACE to prepare a Feasibility Study to determine the feasibility of expanding Craney Island into the east, and to consider rapid filling of the new dredge material site to provide an area for a new marine terminal. The Feasibility Study determined that the existing CIDMMA would reach capacity in 2025 and the VPA would run out of cargo handling capacity in 2011. The objectives of the study were then focused on providing a solution that could address both of these capacity shortfalls. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), USACE evaluated all reasonable alternatives to avoid and minimize impacts to the environment. The Corps evaluated a total of 51 alternatives for dredged material placement and a total of 25 port alternatives for container handling capacity. An eastward expansion emerged as the best solution to increase the capacity of CIDMMA for dredged material and also provide an area to construct the fourth marine terminal. The final Feasibility Study recommended an eastward expansion, with a future project planned to strengthen the western dikes. The Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) were approved by the Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Carl A. Stock, in October of 2006. The Virginia Port Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are now embarking on the Preliminary Engineering and Design (PED) for the eastward expansion, the western dike strengthen is not required until about 2025 and will be delayed until a future date. Construction of the eastward expansion is scheduled to begin in 2010 and the first phase of the marine terminal is planned to be operational after 2020. The undertaking will generate $6 billion in National Economic Development (NED) benefits over the 50-year life of the project. |
| Quick Facts |
The Craney Island Eastward Expansion is an economic driver for the Commonwealth and the Nation:
- The Port of Virginia currently generates 343,000 Commonwealth jobs, $13.5 billion in wages, $41.1 billion in revenue, and $1.2 billion in taxes.
- The Port of Virginia handles cargo from all 48 contiguous states; over 14,000 businesses across the U.S. ship goods through the Port.
- Craney Island Eastward Expansion construction will generate 1,176 jobs and $37 million in wages.
- Over time, it will generate 54,000 jobs, $1.7 billion in wages, and $155 million in state and local tax revenue.
- It will have $5 billion in cumulative economic impacts on the Commonwealth annually.
- With a benefit Cost Ratio of 4.4 to 1, it will generate $6 billion in National Economic Development (NED) benefits.
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| At a Glance |
At A Glance » The Craney Island Eastward Expansion is a unique dual-purpose project which will effectively extend the life of Craney Island as a dredged material placement area and also provide land for the construction of a new marine terminal. The following video explains in greater detail how this project will be constructed to meet the combined needs of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Port Authority.
Regional Navigation » Dredging is a critical activity that affects the lives of nearly every Hampton Roads citizen. Significant components of the Hampton Roads economy—including maritime commerce, ship building, and the military — depend upon deep, clear navigation channels, which in turn depend upon dredging material from our harbor’s waterways. The relatively low cost of dredging in Norfolk Harbor is due to the location and availability of dredged material placement at Craney Island. The Eastward Expansion will allow Craney Island to accept dredged material well beyond 2025, extending its useful life by almost ten years.
Expanded Cargo Capicity » The Craney Island Eastward Expansion will also meet The Port of Virginia’s need for expanded cargo capacity by accommodating the construction of a marine terminal on top of the new cell.
Road & Rail Connector » The Craney Island Road and Rail Connector will provide the expanded capacity needed to handle increasing cargo through the region. This multimodal link is designed to supply road and rail access to the Craney Island Marine Terminal. The roadway will be constructed to accommodate trucks entering and exiting the marine terminal to or from Route 164. Rail service to the site will be an extension of the recently-completed Commonwealth Railway Mainline Safety Relocation Project. The connector will avoid major residential thoroughfares like Cedar Lane and River Shore Road, creating a brand new route. The proposed route for the connector will not impact private residences in the Churchland area.
Environmental Mitigation » The Virginia Port Authority and the Army Corps of Engineers have a commitment to environmental preservation and restoration. By collaborating with federal and state agencies, as well as with local environmental groups, the project partners have developed a comprehensive mitigation plan that will reduce any potential impacts of the Craney Island Eastward Expansion. The mitigation plan will restore critical biological functions and habitat in the Elizabeth and James Rivers. |
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