New York Construction Report staff writer
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Buffalo District has awarded a $4.2 million contract to Michigan-based Ryba Marine Construction Co. to carry out a second phase of repairs to the Bird Island Pier along the Niagara River in Buffalo, N.Y.
The contract is part of a broader $15.5 million effort to rehabilitate the aging pier, which plays a key role in Great Lakes navigation, supports Buffalo’s waterfront economy and helps protect the city’s primary drinking water supply.
Under the latest contract, Ryba Marine will repair more than 1,400 linear feet of the river side of the pier in three sections adjacent to the West Side Rowing Club and the Shoreline Trail Bridge. Work is scheduled to begin in summer 2026 and conclude in fall 2027.
Repairs across the project will include installing new concrete blocks, grouted stone and a protective concrete cap along nearly 3,000 feet of the structure. The work is intended to address damage caused by seiche events, winter storms and ice, which have led to the loss of stone protection, culvert damage and impacts to the pier’s pedestrian walkway.
“The Bird Island Pier is a critical component of the Great Lakes Navigation System, supporting economic growth and strategic value to the nation, as well as great waterfront recreation,” said Lt. Col. Robert Burnham, commander of the USACE Buffalo District. “We’re proud to deliver this repair for residents and visitors from across the region, ensuring Buffalo’s waterfront continues serving the local community and the country.”
A first phase of repairs, covering about 1,500 linear feet on both the river and channel sides of the pier near the Colonel Ward Pumping Station and the Buffalo Yacht Club, is being completed under an $11.3 million contract awarded in September 2024 to Michigan-based Great Lakes Dock and Materials LLC. That phase is scheduled for completion in fall 2026.
USACE said the pier ensures safe vessel access between Lake Erie, Buffalo Harbor, the Lower Niagara River and the Erie Canal, and supports more than $62 million in annual business revenue and labor income. The structure is also one of Buffalo’s most popular walking and fishing destinations.
The Bird Island Pier, originally constructed between 1823 and 1825, extends about 10,507 feet from Unity Island’s Freedom Park to the entrance of the Black Rock Canal, shielding the Colonel Ward Pumping Station and Ralph Wilson Jr. Centennial Park from wave action. The project is fully federally funded through USACE operations and maintenance programs.
