Conner Waterfront Park project protects shoreline

 

November 11, 2020

MAKING AN INVESTMENT TO SAVE THE BANK – Work has been underway since mid-October, when this photo was taken from the Rainbow Bridge. The shoreline restoration at Conner Waterfront Park is a major re-armoring of the channel bank. Project costs are $175,000. Given good weather the project will be done before year’s end. Story, page 6. – Photo by Ken Stern

Time and tide wait for no one.

Town officials have long been eager to restore the shoreline at Conner Waterfront Park, They know that adage well.

But for what seemed the longest time they had to remain patient as the proposed major re-armoring of the channel bank beneath Rainbow Bridge slowly waded through a lengthy permit process that was finally concluded earlier this year.

Bidding soon followed, with a $174,525 contract awarded to C. Johnson Construction.

The Town’s patience was rewarded in late October when work crews moved in heavy equipment and large rock to begin stabilizing the eroding shoreline.

“This is a project that’s been on the books for quite a while,” Town Public Works Director Brian Lease told the Weekly News.

Lease and Mayor Ramon Hayes addressed the much-anticipated shoreline work at the Oct. 13 Town Council Zoom meeting.

Each alluded to time, weather and tidal conditions related to the project.

Hayes said that due to gradual erosion and annual construction cost increases the Town could ill afford to see the shoreline work further delayed.

“Every year we lose shoreline there,” Hayes said.

Lease said it will likely take 22 “good weather” days to finish the job.

Seasonal high tides are a significant factor, he said.

“Storms and high tides are more frequent this time of year,” Lease told the Weekly News following the Oct. 13 session.

Tidal conditions were especially tough in late October.

The contractor has requested to work some nights to hasten completion of the project, Lease told Councilmembers.

“We’ll give Shelter Bay notice before that happens,” Lease said, “because they’ll be the ones impacted by any light intrusion.

“It’s a significant project,” he added, “and one that’s all weather dependent.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impacts of attempts to curb spread of the virus, Town officials expect the shoreline restoration and the recently constructed new Caledonia Street pump station to be the last major capital improvement projects through 2021.

 

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