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The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be providing nearly $2 million in additional funding for rebuilding the Eastport breakwater so that sufficient monies will be committed to accept the lowest bid for the project. The low bidder, CPM Constructors of Freeport, has now been awarded the contract for $14.95 million. Funding includes $6 million from the federal government, $6.95 million from the state and $2 million in local funds, with $1 million from the Eastport Port Authority and an anticipated $1 million Community Development Block Grant for which the city has applied.
At a pre-construction meeting with CPM Constructors on February 25, company officials stated that they will be bringing in equipment to work on the project over the next two weeks. After snow on the breakwater is removed and a perimeter fence is erected, CPM will begin digging out the collapsed portion of the pier. All boats in the inner basin will have to be removed by March 9. "I'm glad we're going to be getting started, finally," says Port Director Chris Gardner. The two-year project is scheduled to be completed by March 2017.
To reduce costs, the construction of a sheet-pile wave screen that would run from the new breakwater to the southern dolphin is being removed from the project, which will save $3.5 million from the total bid price of $18.5 million. At the February 17 meeting of the Eastport Port Authority board, Gardner outlined that, as a short-term measure to protect the boats in the breakwater's inner basin from waves, the port authority is planning to install a string of large ship fenders in place of the wave screen, at a cost of less than $100,000. The submerged fenders should cut down on the wave action in the inner basin, although they will not reduce the swells. However, boat owners have had to deal with swells in the inner basin in the past. The port authority will seek to have a wave screen constructed later on.
In addition, a change order will be negotiated with CPM Constructors so that a new fuel system that is being requested by the U.S. Coast Guard for its Eastport station can be included in the work. The Coast Guard will pay for all additional costs of the fuel system. Also, the Coast Guard will be seeking to keep its boats in the inner basin during the construction period.
The port authority will rent its former office building to CPM Constructors and the MDOT to be used as a construction office.
Following an executive session with MDOT Commissioner David Bernhardt, the board agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding with the MDOT concerning the reconstruction project. The board also authorized Gardner to negotiate a more formal agreement with MDOT to be signed later by the board.
In other action concerning the breakwater, the port authority board voted to take over ownership of the facility from the city, with board members Mary Repole, who is city council president, and Elaine Abbott, who is city manager, abstaining. The breakwater will remain tax-exempt. At its February 4 meeting, the city council had voted to transfer the ownership of both the breakwater and the fish pier to the port authority.
Concerning a decision to take over ownership of the fish pier, Gardner said that the port authority will wait until an engineering review of the structure is completed by Childs Engineering Corporation.
The crane used by fishermen that has been on the breakwater will be installed on the south side of the fish pier.
Economic study for bridge
An economic impact study of building a bridge between Eastport and Perry will be undertaken by the University of Maine and New York consultant Ray Tillman. MDOT will provide more than $19,000 for the University of Maine's portion of the cost, while the port authority approved a $5,000 expenditure for the contract with Tillman's associate, Neal Cohen. Tillman has volunteered his own services but will subcontract a portion of his work to Cohen. Gardner was scheduled to meet with project stakeholders on February 24 in Pittsfield.
SUV purchase
The board approved purchasing a used SUV for under $10,000 in order to provide transportation for crew members from the cargo ships to the Bangor airport. Anticipated revenue of $7,000 to $10,000 a year should offset the cost in the first year. Gardner pointed out that the port authority is responsible for the services provided by the ship's agent, which includes crew transportation. The driver will be a port authority staff member.
Wood chip imports possible
Along with the pending export of wood chips to Ireland, the port authority has received a request about importing wood chips for a local user. The chips would come from Canada or South America, and the import shipments might begin before the export shipments. Unlike the importation of wood chips into the European Union, the shipment of wood chips into the U.S. does not require phytosanitation. Concerning the likelihood of the shipments, Gardner notes that prices can always change.
As for the Ireland shipments, the port authority could not agree to the terms set by Key Leasing to provide a guarantee on a $1.8 million loan to Phyto-Charter LLC, which will use the funds to acquire the phytosanitation equipment for the wood chips. The port authority will now be looking at other lenders instead.
Other action
Gardner will be attending the Miami Seatrade cruise ship convention in March. He noted that two cruise ship seasons will be affected by the breakwater project, with passengers having to be tendered ashore, since there will be no berthing for larger cruise ships. The owners of the Pearl Mist cruise ship are interested in having the ship make six visits to Eastport this year, and Gardner is hoping that the port authority can keep the cruise ship companies interested in coming while the breakwater is being reconstructed.
The new Rubb warehouse at the Estes Head terminal has had problems with the doors, with snow getting into the warehouse. Repairs have been made, including a temporary repair of the door that was "beating itself to death," said Gardner, with the contractor working with the port authority.
The port authority is continuing to discuss the possibility of chartering a tugboat from McAllister Towing and Transportation Company. Gardner said if the cost is $10,000 a year, then it would be less than purchasing another tugboat.
The project for the new road to the Estes Head terminal and the reconstruction of County Road is set to go out to bid this spring. |
