The multi-million dollar dredging project for Washington Island’s Detroit Harbor is officially underway. At a special kickoff program Tuesday morning, the Island’s Town Chairman Joel Gunnlaugsson was joined by State Senator Frank Lasee, State Representative Garey Bies, & several representatives of the Foth Engineering firm that handled all of the technical work. Gunnlaugsson explained the importance of the project…[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/N1499.mp3|titles=Joel Gunnlaugsson]
Representative Bies told WDOR how the state grant of more than five million dollars came to be…[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/N1500.mp3|titles=State Representative Garey Bies]
The Town of Washington also pitched in $1.9 million. Hoyt Purinton, president of the Washington Island Ferry Line told WDOR what the dredging will mean for the ferry service…[audio:http://wdor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/N1501.mp3|titles=Hoyt Purinton]
The engineers hope to get the job finished before the harbor freezes, but they will finish the project in the spring if necessary. Roen Salvage of Sturgeon Bay has the contract to do the actual dredging which is underway. The material dredged will be disposed of on land owned by the Town of Washington.
