FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 21, to mark the completion of the Lower Wharf Improvement Project at 1085 Harbor Road in Southport.
The ceremony will take place at the historic Lower Wharf, located at the entrance to Southport Harbor. A rain date is scheduled for noon on Oct. 22.
Managed by the town's Harbor Management Commission, Lower Wharf is a public waterfront destination used for fishing, sightseeing and community events, including the annual Blessing of the Fleet.
The wharf sustained significant damage during a storm in December 2022, when wind-driven waves overtopped the structure. The town subsequently removed the remaining fishing and observation pier because of safety concerns.
In early April 2026, the town selected a contractor to rebuild the fishing and observation pier, reconstruct the seawalls and improve the surrounding park.
The improvements included the installation of irrigation, sod and new benches.
Construction took approximately five and a half months, and the site reopened to the public late September.
"This project represents an important investment in our waterfront and will provide residents and visitors with enjoyment for years to come," First Selectperson Christine Vitale said in a statement.
Vitale thanked the town's Harbor Management Commission and its consultant, Geoff Steadman; the town's Engineering and Capital Projects departments; the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; the Connecticut Port Authority; Race Coastal Engineering; and Colonna Concrete & Asphalt Paving for their work on the project.
She also credited Fairfield's state legislative delegation with helping secure more than $1 million in state grant funding for the improvements.
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