July 5, 2005

Contact: Ian Michaels (718) 595-6600

Kensico Dam Rehabilitation Project Begins

Commissioner Emily Lloyd of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that preliminary work on a $31.4 million project to rehabilitate the Kensico Dam in Westchester has begun.

“This is part of an ongoing effort by the DEP to renovate its dams throughout the watershed,” said Commissioner Lloyd. “The final result will help guarantee the structural integrity of the dam and also beautify this well-used area.”

During the project, which is expected to last until January 2007, all access to the roadway over the dam will be closed. The closure is to begin on Thursday, July 7, and was scheduled to allow access to the road during the July 4 th holiday weekend. The road had previously been closed to vehicular traffic because of security concerns following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Under the contract, which has been awarded to Ecco III Enterprises of Yonkers, DEP will:

• Reconstruct the colonnades at the ends of the dam;
• Clean and repair all stone masonry surfaces on the dam;
• Reconstruct the lower pavilions;
• Reconstruct the dam’s downstream terrace;
• Reconstruct the spillway and spillway channel;
• Clean the spillway discharge pipe;
• Clean the internal galleries and install new lighting and doors;
• Reconstruct the Upper Gate Chamber, Lower Valve Chamber and Maintenance House;
• Perform final grading and landscaping at the end of the project.

The Kensico Spillway Channel Bridge, which is part of the existing roadway and allows traffic to pass over the dam’s rarely used spillway, is also going to be totally reconstructed. The roadway pavement, drainage system, arch deck and spandrel walls will all be replaced and waterproofed.

The Kensico Dam was completed in 1915 and created the Kensico Reservoir, which holds 30 billion gallons of water and is a vital part of the New York City water system. The masonry dam has a crest length of 1,843 feet and a maximum height of 307 feet from the lowest point in the foundation to the surface of the roadway.