Breakwaters
Vermilion closes construction with an open scope reconciliation
USACE officially completed Vermilion Harbor's East Pier repair on 24 July after rebuilding 900 feet with about 4,700 tons of crushed rock and new stone. The earlier USD 6.5 million award baseline covered 600 feet; the additional reported length and final value remain unexplained.
The owner now reports 900 feet complete
USACE Buffalo District's 24 July 2026 completion release controls the 900-foot final length, 1,333-foot denominator, approximately 4,700 tons of crushed rock and new stone, reused cap stone and added lakeside protection. Its 18 June 2025 release separately controls the USD 6.5 million September 2024 award and 600-foot construction baseline. The 300-foot difference and final contract value remain unexplained. The April 2026 image is exact construction evidence but not completion-day condition or final quantity acceptance.
Physical completion is clearer than the final account
The project is a compact Great Lakes example of a harbor-entrance structure moving from an announced reach into a larger owner-reported completed reach. USACE has not attributed the difference to revised limits, a changed measurement basis or contract modifications. Treating the two lengths as automatically comparable would create a false cost benchmark.
Evidence conclusion
Keep the 600-foot award baseline visible
The final physical claim is strong: USACE says 900 feet of the 1,333-foot East Pier were rebuilt and identifies the stone, reused cap and lakeside protection. The commercial evidence stops earlier. The USD 6.5 million figure belongs to a 600-foot construction baseline; it should not be divided by the final length, escalated or described as the complete final account until the district publishes as-built and modification records.
Outstanding evidence
- As-built limits and measurement basis for the 900-foot completion statement
- Contract modifications explaining the earlier 600-foot package boundary
- Final executed value and closeout record
- Accepted stone and concrete quantities
- Inspection findings after winter ice, waves and settlement
- Observed navigation-channel and beach-protection performance
Subject index
Related subjects
These subject pages bring together related projects, technical articles, reports, and evidence methods.
Sources used 3
- Rebuilding History: USACE completes crucial repairs to Vermilion Harbor Pier U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District via DVIDS, 24 July 2026
- Vermilion East Pier concrete pour U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District via DVIDS, 13 April 2026
- Completion of West Pier repair and start of East Pier repair U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District via DVIDS, 18 June 2025