Perry Monument Seawall Restoration Project Update
The seawall contractor E.S. Wagner Co. began mobilizing in March and is making great progress. Work along the far northwest section is moving quickly with the installation of a turbidity curtain. Saw cutting has started which will result in the removal of the top 3 feet of the existing seawall. New concrete will be added and when complete, this section of the seawall will be 12 inches taller.
What is a turbidity curtain? It is a flexible, impermeable barrier used to trap sediment in bodies of water. This curtain is generally weighted at the bottom to ensure that sediment does not travel under the curtain, which is supported at the top through a flotation system. This is one of the methods used to ensure the construction activity does not negatively impact the health of Lake Erie.
Work is also underway at the far southwest section of the seawall. In this area, 200 feet of existing seawall will be repaired and the wall height increased 18 inches when complete. An 80-foot extension will be added between the walkway and the swim beach. This extension will protect the former superintendent’s residence from future flooding. Protection of this building is important as it is listed as a contributing structure on the Memorial’s National Register of Historic Places nomination.
The work along the far southwest including the Village Swim Beach at the end of Delaware Avenue and far northwest along Bayview Avenue across from Toledo Avenue should be complete by the end of June 2022. Assuming the project stays on schedule both areas will be reopened for public access by the July 4th weekend.
In 2022, most of the work will be along the south seawall so we do not anticipate road closures or restrictions along Bayview Avenue except for very short periods while equipment or materials are moved from one area to another.
This brings us to a very important element, the safety of the contractor’s employees, park employees, visitors, and residents. When near the work areas please remain cautious as the large trucks/equipment might have a hard time seeing you. While they are moving in or out of the fenced areas, please be patient and give them adequate space. Please be aware that the fenced work areas are closed to the public for the duration of the project.
Feel free to reach out if you have questions or want more information about the project. You can contact the park directly by email at pevi_social_media@nps.gov or find them on Facebook messenger.
The previous piece is published in this month’s Put-in-Bay Gazette. The Gazette has been producing incredible independent Put-in-Bay island news for over 40 years. If you have any interest at all in what is happening on South Bass Island, we urge you strongly to subscribe to the Put-in-Bay Gazette. One-year online subscriptions are only $15, and print subscriptions are available as well. To subscribe please click here.
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