Many of you have seen the dredging taking place in the main lagoon areas — Redwood City thanks you all for your ongoing patience! Unfortunately, the contractor has come across a significant amount of debris in the lagoon, such as old rebar (metal), pieces of concrete, and hundreds of golf balls, This required him to stop work to remove this debris, which has slowed down the operation. Dredging in the main lagoon area (primarily around Shorebird Island) is now expected to be completed by the end of April.

A second phase of dredging is scheduled to start by early April, in the lagoon between Sandpiper Lagoon Subdivision No. 1 and Bridgeport Subdivision. Work will take place on weekdays only, through the end of April, and the machinery in the lagoon will operate between 8 am and 4:30 pm. Sediment will be loaded into trucks (not every day; only when sufficient amounts have been stockpiled for removal) and hauled out for re-use or disposal. To accomplish this, the outer eastbound lane of Redwood Shores Parkway will be closed to traffic for a segment between Avocet Drive to Egret Lane between 9 am and 2:30 pm daily; access to Waterside Circle and Bay Harbour Drive will be maintained.

This update is to let you know that the project will not be completed by the originally-expected date of January 31, 2010. Unfortunately, the contractor is uncovering some unforeseen conditions that have slowed the work progress. As they’ve been working, the contractor has discovered old rebar (metal), pieces of concrete, and even hundreds of golf balls in the lagoon. Because the contractor has to stop work and remove this debris, this has slowed down their operation.

The City has received approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to continue the work past the original end date, subject to certain restrictions (avoiding “ground disturbing activities”). Assuming that the contractor does not run into any further significant unforeseen debris in the lagoons, they anticipate the work to be completed by the end of February, 2010. This work will be focused on the lagoon around Shorebird Island (dredging zones 3, 4, and 5).

Please visit www.redwoodcity.org/shoresdredging for information about this project, or to be added to the email list.

For immediate concerns with ongoing work, contact the contractor, Lance Dohman, at 650-868-8240. For questions about the overall project, please call Brian Lee, Redwood City Supervisory Civil Engineer, at 650-780-7391.

Again, thank you for your understanding as we continue with the dredging project, which will result in a cleaner, more appealing lagoon in Redwood Shores.

Just a note to let you know that the City has given the dredging contractor permission to work Saturdays from 8 am — 4 pm throughout January. It turns out that this adjustment is necessary in order maintain the schedule for completion. Additionally, the contractor is utilizing up to two additional “aquamog” pump barges to accelerate the work.

The dredging will continue until December 18 – dredging will begin in the lagoon closest to Area H, north of Marine Parkway only (Zone 9A)

*Over the next two weeks, the contractor will be installing the floating pipeline that will be used to pump dredge material later from the lagoons around Shorebird Island (Zones 3,4,5) to Area H.

*By mid-December, the contractor will place a booster pump on a small barge, in the main lagoon approximately halfway between Shorebird Island and Area H.

*During the last week of December, and continuing through mid-January, the contractor will be dredging the lagoons around Shorebird Island.

*During January the contractor will complete remaining areas – portions of the lagoon near Area H, but south of Marine Parkway (Zones 8 and 9).

*By January 31, the contractor should be complete, and cleanup/demobilization of equipment will take place.

And as a reminder, the work hours will be 7:30 am – 4:00 pm, weekdays only. Boaters need to be very aware of the floating pipeline, which will be well-marked. While it’s in place, it will not be possible for boats to cross over the pipeline, as it will be only partially submerged. This may be a particular issue for residents living on parts of Shorebird Island, and along the northern side of the main lagoon, during the period while the Shorebird Island area is being dredged. Once Shorebird Island lagoon is dredged, the pipeline will be removed and boats will have access. The contractor will have floating buoys and markers attached to the pipeline to clearly indicate its location.