A rendering of the Marine Service Center showing 35 percent of the design of Phase II completed. A 65 percent rendering is expected by the end of the year. (Graphic courtesy Wrangell Harbor Department)
The next step in the renovation process at The Marine Service Center in Wrangell is about to get underway – with better roadways and a paved connection to Trident Seafoods on the horizon.
The section of the MSC nearest to the Case Street gate and Trident’s cold storage, or Project Area 1, would be the first to be renovated, according to Wrangell Harbormaster Greg Meissner.
“The next phase of the project is under design and we have 35 percent of the design finished,” Meissner said. “In November, we should have the additional 65 percent of the design completed. Once that is done and we have the documents in hand, we go out to bid for the work.”
Meissner added that the construction for the remainder of the yard will be similar to what was seen in 2011 and early 2012.
“We’re going to excavate some ground and it will come back filled with concrete,” Meissner said. “It will be a little different, though, because the ground they are excavating is material we put in a year and a half ago, so it should go faster.”
The intent, Meissner added, in to lay concrete in the entire boatyard.
“We’re going to have concrete everywhere,” he added. “Depending on how the bids go on the base bids, we’ll see whether there is money left over for the alternate areas and just go until the money runs out.”
PND Engineering of Juneau prepared the set of 35-percent design review site plans for use by the city for Phase II of the concrete paving at the MSC. The document submitted by the firm states that inclusions of changes in scope to utilities, electrical and additive alternatives have been added – and estimates the total construction cost to come close to $7.35 million.
According to an accompanying letter to the city from PND, approximately $6.1 million of funding for the project would be available to the city through the Alaska Department of Community, Commerce and Economic Development.
Jeff Jabusch, the Borough Finance Director, said the city would utilize state grant money – and only dip into city coffers if necessary to finish the smallest of portions of the project.
“The funding would all come from grant money and we would hope that the $6.1 million would pave the majority of the rest of the project,” Jabusch said. “If it is something small and non-substantial, we would probably add to it financially, but not much because we don’t have the money for that.”
Jabusch added that the project could extend out to a third phase if paving comes up short, but that the scenario is dependent on incoming bids.
“It’s just a guess but I think we’d go for a third phase if anything substantial is left over,” Jabusch said. “We’ll just have to see how the bid process comes out. We would also probably wait to ask for any more money from the state during the 2014 legislative session.”
According to Meissner, bid requests for the work should go out shortly after the beginning of 2013, with construction to begin in late April or early May.
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