AVALON – Progress on the Bay Park Marina project was temporarily delayed by county emergency work on Avalon Boulevard bridges, but the contractor came up with a work-around, and the borough still hopes to have the marina open by Memorial Day.
The boulevard represents the only access point for heavy equipment needed for projects on Seven Mile Island due to the existing weight limitations on the 96th Street Bridge in Stone Harbor.
At the Borough Council meeting May 14, Administrator Scott Wahl said that the marina project contractor, Schiavone Construction, had developed a work-around by having a subcontractor bring a large crane on a barge to the marina site.
The crane was to remove the coffer dam located at the newly constructed boat ramp. A coffer dam is a temporary structure built to create a dry working environment for boat ramp construction. Plans had been to remove it with the equipment that is stuck off the island due to the bridge work.
The work was planned to take two days.
Also stuck off-island is the contractor’s large paver, which was expected to pave the new parking lot at the marina. Another subcontractor with a paver already on the island reached an agreement with Schiavone and was to complete the paving of the parking lot.
Progress is also being made on completion of bulkhead work, the dockmaster building and other aspects of the overall marina plan.
According to Wahl, the borough is still committed to its goal of having the marina open and the kayak racks installed in advance of Memorial Day.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
