EASTPORT, Maine — Although the collapsed portion of the Eastport breakwater appears untouched, the $14.95 million reconstruction project is on schedule for completion in 2017.
“That will be one of the last things done,” Chris Gardner, executive director of the Eastport Port Authority, said recently, referring to what looks like a pile of gravel that has been there since the breakwater collapsed Dec. 4, 2014. The collapse injured one man, sunk a boat and damaged numerous other vessels.
When reconstruction began in the spring, excavation was done to stabilize the collapsed portion of the 400-foot L-shaped breakwater, but no work has been done that changes the appearance of it above water, Gardner said.
Much of the work is being done underwater, where crews are installing support pylons, he said.
The breakwater and pier, which are owned by the city and managed by the Port Authority, are vital to the local economy, providing deep-water berthing for cruise ships, cargo vessels, fishing boats, yachts and the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard boats.
Because the structure also protects Eastport’s inner harbor and marina, it’s referred to as a breakwater. It was constructed in 1962 and expected to have a 20-year life. A 1982 engineering review determined it was in good condition and an addition was completed in 1985.
In 2010, officials began to push for a plan to rebuild the structure as it began to show signs of wear. In 2012, a failure on the north side of the facility focused attention on the need for refurbishing.
The port authority was awarded a $6 million federal grant in 2013 along with $7 million from the state for the reconstruction project. Another $2 million came from the income of the Eastport Port Authority.
The breakwater collapsed just 12 to 14 days after the port authority put the redesign and reconstruction project out to bid.