May 14, 2026 – San Juan, Puerto Rico – “Today marks a historic step forward with the launch of Phase 1 of Contract 3 of the Caño Martín Peña Ecosystem Restoration Project. This effort represents far more than construction; it signifies progress, improved quality of life, and a long-awaited transformation for thousands of families in our communities,” said Jenniffer González-Colón, as she joined residents of the Caño Martín Peña area to celebrate the start of the project’s final phase.

Following years of advocacy and community-driven efforts, Governor González-Colón—while serving as Resident Commissioner—secured more than $163 million in federal funding to finally advance construction of this landmark project. Contract 3 was awarded on September 30, 2025, to Novel Construction LLC, with an investment of $57.4 million funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, enacted in 2021. González Colón supported this legislation during her tenure on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Contract #3 – Phase 1 includes the development of a temporary work area on land at Roberto Clemente Sports City; preparation of aquatic disposal sites in San José Lagoon; protective measures for the Moscoso and Barbosa bridges; and dredging and channelization of sections of the Caño Martín Peña, among other activities. The work is expected to take approximately five years, extending through 2030.

“The G-8 has been the driving force behind this project, advocating for residents to remain in their communities in the face of displacement threats. This represents the culmination of more than 20 years of community advocacy for environmental justice and public health,” said Awilda Camacho Llanos, president of the Group of the Eight Communities Surrounding the Caño Martín Peña, Inc., which represents the eight communities bordering the channel.

The project includes dredging and channelization of 2.2 miles of the Caño Martín Peña, located in the heart of San Juan, with the goal of reconnecting the San José Lagoon to the San Juan Bay. This will significantly improve the ecosystem of the channel and the San Juan Bay estuary. The initiative is critical to reducing vulnerability for surrounding communities and nearby areas, including Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, while also generating meaningful economic development opportunities across Puerto Rico.

“With the start of this work, we are strengthening the infrastructure necessary to ensure that dredging and the revitalization of this waterway finally become a tangible reality that transforms the quality of life for our people,” said Mario Núñez Mercado, Executive Director of the ENLACE Caño Martín Peña Project Corporation.

“The restoration of Caño Martín Peña will continue changing lives. As Resident Commissioner, I made it a priority to advance this project and fight for the resources needed to bring it to fruition. Working alongside community leaders and federal agencies, we secured more than $163 million for the construction phase, which includes the dredging component. Now, as Governor, seeing this new phase begin with those same funds reaffirms that when we lead with vision and determination, results follow,” Governor González-Colón added.

Background

Section 5127 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007 authorized the Caño Martín Peña Ecosystem Restoration Project with an initial total cost of $150 million.

Recognizing the need to increase the authorized funding level to protect the project and avoid delays, González Colón successfully advocated before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for an increase. As a result, she secured language in Section 402(e) of WRDA 2020 raising the authorized amount to $255,816,000. This increase ensures the project’s long-term viability within U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) funding limitations.

Additional funding secured through USACE annual Work Plans during González-Colón’s tenure in Congress includes:

• Fiscal Year 2018: $849,000 to continue the design phase (Preconstruction Engineering and Design – PED)
• Fiscal Year 2022: $2,150,000 to complete the PED phase

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law on November 15, 2021, allocated more than $11.6 billion for USACE construction projects nationwide. Following its enactment, USACE designated $163,287,000 for construction of the Caño Martín Peña Ecosystem Restoration Project—funding that now supports the active construction phase.

Project Overview

The Caño Martín Peña Ecosystem Restoration Project involves dredging approximately 2.2 miles of the channel to achieve a width of 100 feet and a depth of 10 feet, reconnecting the lagoon system with San Juan Bay.

The project has two non-federal sponsors: the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) and the ENLACE Caño Martín Peña Project Corporation. Cost-sharing is structured at 65% federal and 35% non-federal funding.

According to the USACE Caribbean District:

• The first construction contract (vegetation removal) was completed in October 2023.
• The second contract (bridge scour protection for Martín Peña, Tren Urbano, and Ponce de León bridges) was awarded in September 2024 and is expected to be completed by December 2026.
• The third construction contract—awarded to Novel Construction, LLC on September 30, 2025—includes dredging of the first segment of the channel.

ENLACE continues housing acquisition and relocation efforts for families within the project footprint, ensuring access to safe, sanitary, and dignified housing. Over the past 15 years, the Government of Puerto Rico and ENLACE have invested more than $100 million in project-related initiatives.

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