SWAMPSCOTT– At the Special Town Meeting on Monday, the Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee brought their construction plan to a broader discussion. The committee drafted seven plans and narrowed them down to two plans.
The Williams Town Pier was named in honor of Tech. Sgt. Albert J. Williams was killed in WWII, with its history going back to 1941 when the construction plan was passed by Town Meeting. The construction was completed in 1961.
There were several reasons to upgrade the pier. It is not wide enough to serve all users, has no easy access to emergency services, and it also needs to be raised and strengthened in preparation for a storm surge.
A video presented by the Chair of the Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee Jackson Schultz clearly showed why the pier needs to be rebuilt. In the video, waves could be seen crashing over the pier as a result of stormy weather, which Schultz commented on.
“That is not a hurricane, that is a regular storm that we receive in Swampscott very often with the wind coming from the Southeast,” said Schultz.
The foundation of the pier has also been corroded by the salty water. “Timber, it’s kind of lost its shape. It’s much softer,” said John McAllister, the consultant for the project.
Schultz added that the boards people walk on should be nailed down into the support structure. So, whenever a wave comes in and pushes up, it is supposed to break the wood people walk on. However, the wave instead pulls everything up out of the sand.
Considering the existing pier an outdated and unsafe amenity for the public, the seven layouts were narrowed to two preferred options and the town was able to secure a grant for a feasibility study with preliminary engineering from the Seaport Economic Council to help.
Environmentally, the committee documented the presence of eelgrass through side scan sonar and underwater video cameras. Eelgrass is an important natural resource, and they are aware of the presence of the eelgrass, according to the presentation.
The first option of the layout is a pier with a hexagon-shaped end that is parallel to the existing pier. It would be wider and elevated.
The second option is also a pier with a hexagon-shaped end, however, it will be adjacent to the west of the parking lot. It would also be wider and elevated. This design will allow for much easier emergency vehicle access to the pier, according to the committee.
Both designs will not require the current pier to be demolished, which allows people to continue to use the pier while the new one is being constructed.
“Otherwise, we have to demolish the bolt here and it would be unusable for however long it took to build the new. Could be a full season or maybe a season,” said Schultz.
The committee is required to report to the Seaport Economic Council by Dec .31. Public comments are welcomed, and public meetings are scheduled.
The committee recognized that the pier is an iconic part of the waterfront. They want that to be preserved and improved for both pleasure and utility, but also with a design that can weather storms, rising sea levels, and environmental changes.
