The Chiquita Lock regulates water flow from the South Spreader. FILE

Cape Coral City Council has awarded a $3.7 million contract for the removal of the Chiquita Lock and seawall restoration.

Council approved the contract with Wright Construction Inc. to provide construction manager at risk services on Wednesday.

The total guaranteed maximum price of the contract is $3,644,038.40 with a city-controlled contingency of $91,100.96, for a total cost of $3,735,139.36.

On March 3, 2023, the city awarded preconstruction services to Wright Construction Group. On Oct. 11, 2023, an amendment one was executed to provide geotechnical services, followed by the second amendment on Jan. 26 to provide a complete seawall design prior to the beginning of construction. The preconstruction current total value for Wright Construction Group is $73,301.72.

The city also is working with AIM Engineering and Surveying, Inc. to maximize the value engineering for the project, so they can “achieve the most cost-effective demolition of the Chiquita Lock and restoration of the seawall.”

The lock, which provides access in and out of the South Spreader Waterway for boats, has had long-term maintenance and boating constriction issues – reasons cited by the city pursued its removal for the last several years. The city has worked towards obtaining permits from the Florida Department of the Environment and Army Corp of Engineers. The city, as of Aug. 16, obtained the Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit. It is currently seeking the ACOE permit, as both are needed to remove the lock and move forward with the marine improvements.

According to city documents, the removal of all existing utilities, proper containment and removal of all hydraulic fluids, tanks, lines, operations building, and lock gates are part of the scope of work. Other items to be removed include all concrete, earth, and seawall in the north side of the lock’s footprint.

The installation of the new seawall on the north side of the lock will be done prior to the removal of the existing one. The seawall on the south side of the lock will remain, as well as the concrete channel base. There will be oyster reef balls placed once the construction is done.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Mayor John Gunter said he had a good meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers.

“It was a very productive meeting, and I think we will see some movement in those in the near future,” he said of the Chiquita Lock and Yacht Club, another project needing ACOE permits. “The city manager has staff working with Army Corps with a few things they requested.”

The FDEP issued the city an Environmental Resource Permit for the South Spreader Waterway Enhancement Project, which includes the removal of Chiquita Lock.

According to FDEP, “The permittee is authorized to improve the South Spreader Waterway by employing several projects to improve water quality. The permittee is authorized to remove the Chiquita Boat Lock and associated uplands, and to install a 165-linear foot seawall along the north end of the South Spreader waterbody. The applicant also seeks to plant over 3,000 mangrove seedlings along the Waterway, as well as to install oyster reef balls in the area where the lock is removed.”

In June of this year, an Administrative Law Judge issued a recommended order authorizing FDEP to grant the ERP to the city, which came after a multi-week evidentiary hearing that concluded on Dec. 20, 2023.

A crucial step in the permitting process was the final administrative hearing with the administrative law judge, as it ordered the city and FDEP to submit their proposed recommended orders by April 29, 2024. The judge determined that the city’s environmental resource permit application met the standards necessary under the Florida law and the Florida Administrative Code.