Contractor wins first contract on $2.3bn project to protect Staten Island from flooding

Looking west from the boardwalk in the South Beach area of Staten Island. Construction is scheduled to begin later this summer on a variety of storm-water drainage structures behind the infrastructure to reduce flood risk from severe storms and tidal surges (Image courtesy of USACE)

The contract involves the construction of large interior drainage ponds and associated stormwater infrastructure as part of the wider South Shore of Staten Island (SSSI), which is set to cost around $2.3 billion in total.

The work, awarded to Triumph Construction Corp by the US Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, in conjunction with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) and State of New York (NYSDEC), is the first of several contracts that will occur over the next few years as part of the overall SSSI project. Designs for each of the remaining construction contracts to help protect Staten Island, which has a long history of severe storm damage, are currently underway.

Triumph’s work also involves the construction of detention basins, an open channel culvert, various stormwater drainage structures such as box culverts, junction chambers, sluice gates, weir chambers, flap gates, and inlets for future stormwater connections, as well as the relocation of existing sanitary sewers.

Construction of the initial contract in South Beach is expected to begin later this year.

New York District commander Col. Alexander Young said, “This contract represents a significant step forward in protecting the south shore of Staten Island from future storm damages. We’re committed to working closely with our partners at the state and city levels to ensure the successful completion of this critical infrastructure project.”