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January 25, 2022

Channel-deepening project expected to boost New Haven Harbor cargo traffic

PHOTO | Courtesy Office of Rosa DeLauro U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro announces New Haven Harbor improvements at the Sound School on Jan. 24, 2022.
By Liese Klein

New Haven’s port saw a 35% bump in ship visits last year and is poised for more growth in coming years thanks to $63 million in infrastructure funding, state officials announced this week. 

The New Haven Harbor Navigation Improvement Project will use the $63 million to dig out and deepen the federal navigation channel within New Haven Harbor, along with the harbor’s ship-maneuvering area and turning basin.

In addition, the project will create 58 acres of new salt marsh, shellfish habitat and a rock reef, said John Henshaw, executive director of the Connecticut Port Authority. 

Henshaw told an audience at the Sound School on Monday that the work would reduce delays as ships wait for favorable tides to call at New Haven, allowing the port to accommodate larger vessels and increased maneuvering of deep-draft vessels. 

New Haven Harbor is already the second-busiest port in New England and will likely get busier due to the improvements, Henshaw said. 

U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro said, “This project is a game-changer. It not only increases navigation and efficiency, it is about the jobs.”

Photo | Milford City Hall Facebook Page
Milford Mayor Benjamin G. Blake (center), U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced dredging of Milford's port on Jan. 25, 2022.

On Tuesday, DeLauro and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal were slated to announce an additional $5 million federal grant to dredge Milford Harbor to ensure safe navigation of the recreational waterway. 

DeLauro also touted another $160.3 million in infrastructure funding awarded to the New Haven County Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, which will help bolster walls, bridges and other structures to combat flooding in Long Wharf and other low-lying areas. 

New Haven City Engineer Giovanni Zinn said that funding would go to three projects: A flood wall on the water side of Interstate 95, moveable floodgates to seal off underpasses in case of flooding and a large pump station. 

Experts forecast a 20-inch rise in sea level by 2050 at Long Wharf, Zinn said, and major construction is needed to prevent the loss of dozens of businesses and 5,000 jobs in the district. 

“We need to start investing now... so New Haven is positioned to be resilient in the future,” Zinn said. 

Mayor Justin Elicker said the project is necessary to both protect the existing transportation networks and economic base of Long Wharf — and ensure that the district is revitalized with new development, like a planned Fusco Corp. residential tower right at the water’s edge.

“This infrastructure is going to help ensure that we protect the economy here,” Elicker said. 

DeLauro added that recent stimulus bills have allowed the city and the state to address long-neglected needs. “Never have we seen the scale of federal resources flowing into our state and our cities to be able to do what needs to be done,” she said. 

Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.

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