Woods Hole Aquarium To Reopen Main Gallery

WOODS HOLE, MA — The Woods Hole Science Aquarium is set to reopen the main gallery starting next week, officials announced.

The closures came as the result of a "recent structural assessment of the Aquarium basement noted deterioration in a section of the concrete and rebar foundation and reservoir wall, and recommended repairs," officials said.

Monday through Friday, the main aquarium will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting next week. The outdoor seal area hours won't change, as visitors have been able to stop and say hello to Bubba the harbor seal at his outdoor enclosure even during the temporary closure.

There is one part of the aquarium yet to reopen, as the upper gallery remains closed for the time being.

Aquarium officials provided an update into the work that's been done since the closure began on May 1, and what's left to be done:

"Since then, NOAA Fisheries’ Facilities, Safety, and Logistics Office staff conducted a site visit, and met with the company that conducted the structural assessment. As a result, our leadership has determined that we can safely reopen the main display area and second floor of the building. The main gallery sits on a slab, directly supported by the ground. The building’s second floor is supported by the exterior foundation walls and seven middle columns, independent of the basement foundation.

The structural assessment recommended shoring up the deteriorating section of basement foundation to reduce the load on the wall before reopening the upper gallery to visitors. The basement is under the upper gallery. This work is expected to be completed during the late summer or fall. We will also make future repairs to the foundation to reduce moisture in the basement, an underlying cause of the concrete and steel deterioration."