News Releases for August 2007
August 13, 2007
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Hoeven: State Making Progress With Army Corps Of Engineers On Fort Stevenson Marina Project
N.D. Parks And Rec. Helps Reduce Cost Of Fort Stevenson Marina To $10 Million
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today said plans for a new marina at Fort Stevenson State Park on Lake Sakakawea in Garrison are tracking well. The N.D. Parks and Recreation Department (NDPRD) collaborated with the Army Corps of Engineers in the planning and design of a new facility, helping to reduce the cost of the project and enabling it to move forward.
"This is a good example of how state and federal interests can work together to find solutions to challenges," Hoeven said. "The work of Parks and Rec has not only made this project less expensive - it's made it possible. I want to thank them, our congressional delegation, and also the members of Friends of Lake Sakakawea, who have worked so hard to support it."
The original Corps estimate placed the cost of the facility at more than $20 million, which was deemed too expensive to be feasible. The state Parks and Recreation Department, however, reduced costs to about $10 million by using native North Dakota stone for rip rap instead of importing Minnesota stone, incorporating parts of the original marina into plans for the new facility, and taking other cost-saving measures that now bring the project cost into acceptable range.
Bids for the marina project closed Friday, and a contract will be awarded in about three weeks. Corps officials told a Parks and Recreation official late Friday that the bids were positive, and it looked as though the project will move ahead. Work is expected to begin in early October.
The following are areas of the project design that the COE accepted based on input from NDPRD staff. Costs were reduced as follows:
- Demonstrated that North Dakota fieldstone could meet Corps specifications, eliminating the need to import quarry rock by rail from Minnesota for project rip rap.
- Reduced and simplified the amount of marina dock infrastructure specified by the Corps in the original plans.
- Incorporated the dock system and concession building from the original marina for the new facility.
- Developed project bid options that allow increased flexibility in completing all key project features.
- Provided alternative plans for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance to the Corps, which significantly reduced the number of ramps and concrete walkways, while maintaining full ADA compliance.
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