ORANGE BEACH, Al — Another plan to protect the Perdido Pass from the oil oozing from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is about to be put into place — the Dredge Pipe Project that could cost in excess of $4 million.

The design consists of large metal pipes that will stretch from south of the Perdido Pass bridge to a point north on the west side of the Pass.

According to local officials, the steel barrier that will be suspended from chains and attached to pilings anchored to the bottom of the pass, will be much more effective than the traditional booms currently being used.

The system is being designed by Thompson Engineering, an employee-owned engineering design, environmental, land planning, construction inspection and materials testing firm located in Foley.

Thompson Engineering recently won the 2009 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Alabama “Engineering Excellence State Award” and the 2009 Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC) “Excellence in Construction Award” for their accomplishment on the Gulf State Park Pier located in Gulf Shores Alabama. Working with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Thompson Engineering provided design services for the new concrete pier,

Although there is no guarantee that the procedure will work, officials are hoping that the heavy-duty boom and design will be able to withstand the stiff current in the pass.

During the three-week period that it will take to construct the system, recreational boating will be off limits through the pass.

The project is being overseen by state officials, and all costs involved will be handled by BP.

“Basically, unified command took our discussions, passed it around, got Thompson Engineering involved in the design and construction once they got approval from the Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, and all of the entities involved,” said Orange Beach City Administrator Ken Grimes. “It will take roughly three weeks construction total, but they are way ahead of schedule. They are doing really good.”

Grimes explained it as a 3-foot pipe filled with a foam material that will float on the water, becoming a very permanent boom with a gradual curve.

According to Grimes, the Orange Beach Coastal Resources Manager originally came up with the idea when talks began about how to secure the pass.

“They started setting the pilings on Friday, and they are scheduled to wrap that up within the next 24-hours,” West said.

“They are already ahead of schedule a couple of days so we will keep our fingers crossed. When we talked about using dredge pipe several weeks ago, we tried to work a plan. But Thompson Engineering worked it a little bit different. I think and I hope and I am optimistic that it is going to be very effective and durable.”

West said this is something that will likely stay in play for an indefinite period.

“It’s just something that we are going to have to live with and work around for a while,” West said.