Corps of Engineers advances Battery Extension project with $6.2 million in design contracts

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, announced that it awarded two major architecture and engineering contracts totaling over $6.2 million for the Battery Extension project.

The Charleston District awarded both contracts to the Stantec-JMT Joint Venture of North Charleston, South Carolina. The awards include a $2.91 million contract, issued Aug. 26, to develop a 35% concept design for the Adger’s Wharf waterfront segment and a $3.31 million contract, issued Sept. 22, to develop a 10% design along Lockwood Drive and the Ashley River. This effort builds off the city of Charleston’s efforts to optimize the alignment and design of the project.

Together, the awards mark a major milestone in the engineering efforts for the Battery Extension project.

Developed in close partnership with the city of Charleston, the project aims to protect lives, infrastructure and historic resources by establishing a comprehensive coastal resilience defense system integrating perimeter protection, tidal gates, municipal pump station tie-ins and living shorelines.

“Awarding these two contracts represents substantial forward momentum across both waterfronts of the peninsula,” said Wes Wilson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District project manager. “We are moving from high-level studies into active, on-the-ground engineering. Our team is committed to keeping this momentum going alongside our partners at the city of Charleston, ensuring we deliver dependable coastal resilience projects that respect the rich history, architecture and daily life of our community.”

Adger’s Wharf is focused on developing preliminary designs for the harbor-facing segment from East Bay Street to the southern end of Waterfront Park. The design will emphasize architectural compatibility with the local historic district, using traditional materials, pedestrian-friendly gates and native plantings to preserve public harbor views and pedestrian access. As the smallest segment in the project footprint, this stretch demonstrates how the project can be designed efficiently to deliver early benefits while driving the advancement of design across the rest of the peninsula.

The Lockwood Drive contract is focused on the Ashley River corridor and includes geotechnical borings, topographical and bathymetric surveys, subsurface utility investigations and environmental analyses. This comprehensive field and engineering effort will progress the design of structures that safeguard the Charleston Medical District, critical transportation routes along Lockwood Drive and adjacent historic neighborhoods from severe storm surge.

In the coming months, residents will observe active fieldwork in both areas, including surveys, utility designations and land- and water-based soil borings. The district and city will continue coordinating closely with community stakeholders throughout each design milestone.

For more information, please visit https://charleston-sc.gov/resilientcharleston.