Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District completes Lorain breakwater repairs

By Susan BlairAugust 24, 2020

A diver from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC works on a repair panel along one of the Lorain Harbor breakwater's sheet pile cells, Lorain, OH, July 14, 2020.
1 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A diver from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC works on a repair panel along one of the Lorain Harbor breakwater's sheet pile cells, Lorain, OH, July 14, 2020. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District representative conducts a quarry inspection, Lorain, OH, July 7, 2020.
2 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District representative conducts a quarry inspection, Lorain, OH, July 7, 2020. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC places armor stone along the Lorain Harbor breakwater's repaired cell, Lorain, OH, July 13, 2020.
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3 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC places armor stone along the Lorain Harbor breakwater's repaired cell, Lorain, OH, July 13, 2020.

Work at the Lorain Outer Wall Repair includes but is not limited to supplying all plant, labor, equipment, and materials necessary to repair the structure and construct a standalone rectangular cell, approximately 51 feet long by 31 feet wide, within the existing breakwater's gap. The standalone cell will be constructed from four steel sheet pile walls anchored to each other with steel tie rods and wales. Additional armor stone protection will be installed below water adjacent to the new cell. Repairs to the existing cells will include installation of large cover plates over existing cracked piles located on the lake side of 12 of the breakwater's circular cells. Cover plates will be installed above and below water using structural blind fasteners and rubber spacers. Approximately 40 small solar power light fixtures are to be installed on the existing cells. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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A new solar lantern installed at the Lorain Harbor breakwater, Lorain, OH, July 14, 2020.
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4 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A new solar lantern installed at the Lorain Harbor breakwater, Lorain, OH, July 14, 2020.

Work at the Lorain Outer Wall Repair includes but is not limited to supplying all plant, labor, equipment, and materials necessary to repair the structure and construct a standalone rectangular cell, approximately 51 feet long by 31 feet wide, within the existing breakwater's gap. The standalone cell will be constructed from four steel sheet pile walls anchored to each other with steel tie rods and wales. Additional armor stone protection will be installed below water adjacent to the new cell. Repairs to the existing cells will include installation of large cover plates over existing cracked piles located on the lake side of 12 of the breakwater's circular cells. Cover plates will be installed above and below water using structural blind fasteners and rubber spacers. Approximately 40 small solar power light fixtures are to be installed on the existing cells. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District representative conducts a quarry inspection, Lorain, OH, July 7, 2020.
5 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District representative conducts a quarry inspection, Lorain, OH, July 7, 2020. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
A repair panel staged for installation at the Lorain Harbor breakwater, Lorain, OH, July 14, 2020.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District design team designed the panels and Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC fabricated them.
6 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A repair panel staged for installation at the Lorain Harbor breakwater, Lorain, OH, July 14, 2020.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District design team designed the panels and Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC fabricated them. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC's dive platform, Lorain Harbor, OH, July 8, 2020.
7 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC's dive platform, Lorain Harbor, OH, July 8, 2020. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC works on new cell construction and rebar layout at the Lorain Harbor breakwater, Lorain, OH, July 14, 2020.
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8 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC works on new cell construction and rebar layout at the Lorain Harbor breakwater, Lorain, OH, July 14, 2020.

Work at the Lorain Outer Wall Repair includes but is not limited to supplying all plant, labor, equipment, and materials necessary to repair the structure and construct a standalone rectangular cell, approximately 51 feet long by 31 feet wide, within the existing breakwater's gap. The standalone cell will be constructed from four steel sheet pile walls anchored to each other with steel tie rods and wales. Additional armor stone protection will be installed below water adjacent to the new cell. Repairs to the existing cells will include installation of large cover plates over existing cracked piles located on the lake side of 12 of the breakwater's circular cells. Cover plates will be installed above and below water using structural blind fasteners and rubber spacers. Approximately 40 small solar power light fixtures are to be installed on the existing cells. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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A diver from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC seacrhes for cracks along the Lorain Harbor breakwater's cells, Lorain, OH, July 17, 2020.
9 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A diver from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC seacrhes for cracks along the Lorain Harbor breakwater's cells, Lorain, OH, July 17, 2020. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
View of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC working on new cell construction at the Lorain Harbor breakwater, Lorain, OH, July 21, 2020.
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10 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – View of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC working on new cell construction at the Lorain Harbor breakwater, Lorain, OH, July 21, 2020.

Work at the Lorain Outer Wall Repair includes but is not limited to supplying all plant, labor, equipment, and materials necessary to repair the structure and construct a standalone rectangular cell, approximately 51 feet long by 31 feet wide, within the existing breakwater's gap. The standalone cell will be constructed from four steel sheet pile walls anchored to each other with steel tie rods and wales. Additional armor stone protection will be installed below water adjacent to the new cell. Repairs to the existing cells will include installation of large cover plates over existing cracked piles located on the lake side of 12 of the breakwater's circular cells. Cover plates will be installed above and below water using structural blind fasteners and rubber spacers. Approximately 40 small solar power light fixtures are to be installed on the existing cells. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC works on new cell construction and rebar layout at the Lorain Harbor breakwater, Lorain, OH, July 18, 2020.
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11 / 11 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District contractor Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC works on new cell construction and rebar layout at the Lorain Harbor breakwater, Lorain, OH, July 18, 2020.

Work at the Lorain Outer Wall Repair includes but is not limited to supplying all plant, labor, equipment, and materials necessary to repair the structure and construct a standalone rectangular cell, approximately 51 feet long by 31 feet wide, within the existing breakwater's gap. The standalone cell will be constructed from four steel sheet pile walls anchored to each other with steel tie rods and wales. Additional armor stone protection will be installed below water adjacent to the new cell. Repairs to the existing cells will include installation of large cover plates over existing cracked piles located on the lake side of 12 of the breakwater's circular cells. Cover plates will be installed above and below water using structural blind fasteners and rubber spacers. Approximately 40 small solar power light fixtures are to be installed on the existing cells. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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BUFFALO, NY– The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District completed repairs to the Lorain breakwater located in Lake Erie in the Port of Lorain, Lorain County, Ohio, on August 5, 2020.

Approximately 50 linear feet of the breakwater was repaired, which was void with a stone base and vertical sheet pile on top. Additionally, any of the remaining cracks were also repaired and solar powered lights were added across both sides of the entire breakwater. A cell of the Lorain breakwater was removed in 2017 due to falling in disrepair.

"A breakwater is the first line of defense against the turbulent tides of Lake Erie for many of our lake front communities. As we face the reality of rising lake levels, diligence is required to ensure the safety and navigability of many harbors in the Great Lakes region,” Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH 9th District) said at the start of construction in May. “I appreciate the Army Corps of Engineers' partnership and attention to this important investment for the City of Lorain and its commercial and recreational harbor users and look forward to future efforts that have a direct, substantive effect on our lake front communities."

Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC completed the $2.1 million contract. Breakwater repairs began in May.

“The Army Corps is continually looking for ways to work collaboratively with stakeholders on all of Lake Erie’s harbors,” said Russ Brandenburg, USACE Buffalo District senior project manager. “The Lorain Harbor repair is a perfect example of how our strong collaboration with the Port of Lorain has resulted in positive benefits through infrastructure improvements for Lake Erie and the public that use it.”