Marblehead pier project facing final hurdle

MARBLEHEAD – There is one more government requirement that needs to be met before construction can begin on the town?s second Salem Harbor pier.Harbors and Waters Board Chairman Gary Gregory told the Recreation and Parks Commission Tuesday night that representatives of the Conservation Commission, the state Department of Environmental Protection and Recreation and Parks Superintendent Brendan Egan must walk through the site – Stramski?s Beach and the Gerry Playground – and review construction plans two weeks before the start of construction.?We expected that to be done before Thanksgiving,” Gregory said. “We hope it gets done in the next couple of weeks.”Once the walk-through and review are complete the general contractor, North Shore Marine of Salem, will begin to bring pier materials to the site by barge. Construction is expected to be take two months or less, depending on winter weather with plantings and access road work to be done next spring.It has taken eight years for the project to reach this point. North Shore Marine bid $186,694, less than the previous $200,000 estimate. The cost will be covered by the harbor department?s annual budget.Neighbors of the access road are hoping to convince the Conservation Commission to pave the road, to correct drainage issues that impact their property. There is a legal question as to whether the 1968 deed the town signed to obtain the Stramski property allows the road to be paved or not.Marblehead architect Walter Jacob has volunteered to design the renovation of a single family house at Stramski Beach into a town sailing center for the Recreation and Parks Commission, with lockers and rest rooms in the basement, a store and food service area on the first floor and two function rooms on the second floor.Commissioners would like to see the basement operating in time for the opening of the new pier.