USACE awards $15.5 million for Bird Island Pier repairs
Written by Marine Log Staff
The Bird Island Pier. (U.S. Army photo by USACE Buffalo District)
The Buffalo Engineer District has awarded contracts totaling $15.5 million to Great Lakes Dock and Materials LLC and Ryba Marine Construction Co. to repair the Bird Island Pier along the Niagara River, a project aimed at maintaining safe vessel navigation between Lake Erie, Buffalo Harbor, the Lower Niagara River and the Erie Canal.
The pier is a key component of the Great Lakes Navigation System, providing protected access for commercial and recreational vessels while also protecting the City of Buffalo’s primary drinking water intake.
Repairs will focus on nearly 3,000 linear feet of the pier, where contractors will install new concrete armor units, grouted stone and a protective concrete cap. The work will address damage caused by seiche events, winter storms and ice, which have resulted in stone loss, culvert damage and deterioration of the adjacent pedestrian walkway.
“The Bird Island Pier plays a vital role in the Great Lakes Navigation System, supporting the nation’s economy, strategic interests, and Buffalo’s vibrant waterfront,” said Lt. Col. Aaron Anderson, the Buffalo District commander. “We’re proud to complete these repairs so residents and visitors alike can continue enjoying a safe, accessible waterfront that benefits both the local community and the nation.”
Construction will be completed in two phases.
The first phase covers approximately 1,500 linear feet on both the river and channel sides of the pier near the Colonel Ward Pumping Station and Buffalo Yacht Club. The work is being performed under an $11.3 million contract awarded to Great Lakes Dock and Materials in September 2024 and is scheduled for completion in fall 2026.
The second phase includes more than 1,400 linear feet of repairs along three sections of the river side of the pier near the West Side Rowing Club and Shoreline Trail Bridge. Ryba Marine Construction was awarded a $4.2 million contract for the work in December 2025, with completion expected in fall 2027.
The project is fully federally funded through the Corps’ Operations and Maintenance program.
Originally constructed between 1823 and 1825, Bird Island Pier extends approximately 10,500 feet from Unity Island to the entrance of the Black Rock Canal. In addition to supporting navigation, the structure protects the Colonel Ward Pumping Station and Ralph Wilson Jr. Centennial Park from wave action.
According to the Corps, Buffalo Harbor handled 1.2 million tons of cargo in 2023, led by sand and gravel, limestone and grain mill products. The harbor supports approximately $51.5 million in business revenue and 169 direct, indirect and induced jobs.
The adjacent Black Rock Canal handled 78,000 tons of cargo in 2023, consisting primarily of asphalt, tar and pitch, supporting an estimated $5.9 million in business revenue and 20 jobs.
