Pier Project Gaining Momentum

Town residents can expect to have a new pier at by the time summer rolls around.

At their meeting Monday night, members of the town's Harbors and Waters Board were given a promising update regarding a proposed pier construction project near .

According to Harbormaster Charles J. Dalferro, the project's specifications were posted at on Sept. 26 and two Salem-based companies put in bids: North Shore Marine Inc. and Burnham Associates Inc.

Dalferro said town officials accepted the lower of the two bids, which came from North Shore Marine Inc., and now all of the necessary paperwork is being reviewed by the town's Chief Procurement Officer, Rebecca Curran.

"We will have our Town Counsel look it over and then the Board of Selectmen will be asked to vote on whether or not to award the contract," Dalferro said.

If the contract is approved in short order, Dalferro said workers will have permission to start construction anytime after Oct. 17. 

"This is not the kind of job that its going to be particularly weather-sensitive," Dalferro said. "It will be built and in operation by May 20. That is the deadline for having floats and gangways up in place." 

Dalferro said he was pleased to see that the project, which has been in the works for more than five years, is finally coming together.

"It has been a long, long process, but this is going to happen," Dalferro said.