Economic Development & Industrrial Corporation of Lynn

Lynn pier seawall work under way

May 1, 2012
By Chris Stevens/The Daily Item

Work is under way on the seawall at the end of Blossom Street extension, which will one day be home to the Lynn ferry, according to Economic Development and Industrial Corporation Executive Director James Cowdell.

Nearly two-thirds of the sprawling parking lot adjacent to the public boat ramp is fenced off and is full of piles of rock, dirt and other debris from the construction. Access to the ramp is still open, but the rest of the lot will be closed until the middle of June, which is when the work on the seawall is scheduled to be finished, Cowdell said.

"Which will coincide perfectly with the Seaport Advisory Council's June meeting, which it will be holding here in Lynn," he said.

Cowdell said the advisory council is expected to award the city with Phase III money at the meeting.

A backhoe moves rubble on Blossom Street extension in Lynn where work is under way to build a pier Monday. (Item Photo / Angela Owens)

"That will be a little north of $2 million that will wrap up the project," he said. "All of a sudden, it's coming together."

The entire ferry project has been paid for through grants from the Seaport Advisory Council, which includes $750,000 that paid for the demolition of a building located at the Blossom Street extension site and reconstruction of a public boat ramp. It also included the $1.3 million for the current project, demolishing the dilapidated pier and rebuilding the seawall.

Cowdell said it's been interesting to see the project take shape. As little as six weeks ago there was barely any visible work being done, but now the project is in full swing. The remnants of an old pier have been removed and a barrier erected around the exposed seawall has been installed to help protect the ongoing work.

"You can actually see where the boat will go," Cowdell noted.

The work is slated to be finished in mid-June. Phase III, building the actual dock, will have to go out to bid before work can begin and Cowdell said he doesn't expect the ferry to actually start running for another two years.

"It was exciting to see this when it began and how it's come about," he said. "And it will be exciting to finally see it up and running."

Chris Stevens can be reached at cstevens@itemlive.com.

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