KINGSTON — The marina dredge at the Port of Kingston finished on schedule and under budget, according to Port Manager David Malone.

The dredge was completed Dec. 18. It cost $317,880.92.

The original estimated cost for the dredge was $463,000. American Construction Company Inc. had the low bid of $334,361.20. The company finished the project under their own bid.

“I am both impressed and quite satisfied with American [Construction’s] performance on this project,” Malone wrote to the Herald.

About 17,000-cubic yards of sediment was removed from the marina. The sediment was transported to waters north of Mukilteo and Everett. The dredge increases the depth of the shallow marina.

The port will have to monitor the dredged area, and eelgrass that was relocated just outside of the breakwater, for five years. If more sediment has filled in the marina another dredge may be necessary.

The likelihood of another dredge being necessary down the road potentially increases with the plan to remove a second culvert in the estuary. The culvert under West Kingston Road is expected to be removed and replaced with a bridge in 2017.

When the first culvert under South Kingston Road was removed, it increased outflow of sediment.

The port is expecting more boat traffic now that the dredge is complete. The port has $17,500 on its 2015 budget to put towards a four-door electric car. The car would be available to marina guests so they can drive into town to pick up supplies.

The entire cost of the project, which began in 2012, has not been determined. The port is waiting for a few final expenses, Malone said. However, Malone is confident the project in its entirety will come in under the $698,298 that was budgeted in 2013.