BATON ROUGE, LA — Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) has initiated Construction Management At-Risk (CMAR) pre-construction services on the Chandeleur Islands Restoration Project. CPRA has selected Kiewit Corporation subsidiary Weeks Marine, Inc. to provide the CMAR services for the state’s largest barrier island restoration project ever undertaken.
Because of its diverse habitat, abundance of wildlife, and remote location, the Chandeleur Islands Restoration Project is the first large-scale CPRA barrier island restoration project to utilize the CMAR contracting model. Weeks Marine will work collaboratively with the CPRA project team and design team to deliver the project.
“This project marks a significant step forward in protecting and restoring one of Louisiana’s most valuable coastal assets,” CPRA Chairman Gordon “Gordy” Dove said. “Utilizing the CMAR approach and bringing Weeks Marine on board early will allow us to complete the project more efficiently and within budget. This model allows us to leverage their expertise from the start, ensuring we make the best decisions for both the environment and our communities. With this collaboration, we’re not just restoring our coast — we’re building a sustainable future for generations to come.”
Weeks Marine Inc., a marine construction company established in 1919, specializes in dredging and marine services. The company operates one of the largest hydraulic dredging fleets in the United States. Since 2018, Weeks Marine has constructed nearly 150 miles of beaches and restored over 12,000 acres of marsh.
The scope of the initial pre-construction phase of work for the Chandeleur Islands Restoration Project includes participation in the design process, which involves providing constructability input, cost estimates, and construction schedules for the preliminary and final design phases.
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The proposed project aims to restore 13 miles of the barrier island chain and enhance its long-term resiliency and sustainability. Funding for the current design and survey efforts comes from the Regionwide Trustee Implementation Group, established as part of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement to restore damages from the 2010 oil spill.
Construction for the project is targeted to begin in early 2026.
