Service Center Phase II concrete moving forward

Anyone driving down Shakes Street during the past two months probably couldn’t help but notice the massive steel rebar structure going in at The Marine Service Center – a steel design that will reinforce massive slabs of concrete that a new marine hoist will ride on in years to come.

The project, which is Phase II of the MSC renovation, includes two sections of rebar and concrete construction that was awarded by the Borough Assembly to Southeast Roadbuilders on March 12 as a base bid and alternate location.

According to Borough Manager Tim Rooney, the work will take nearly a season to complete.

“As the contract is currently awarded, all base bid work is to be completed this season with the contractor returning next season to complete Alternate A,” he said.

In a meeting with the contractor, Rooney said Southeast Roadbuilders approached staff last week regarding the project. As a result of the current pace of the project, he said they believe they can “complete all work this year if the sequence of work was rearranged somewhat.”

“The advantages to Southeast Roadbuilders if this were to occur would be that they would receive fall payment this year, would be able to close out their bonding a year earlier, and it would eliminate any potential conflicts with work they may want to bid on next year,” Rooney added. “The advantages to the City and Borough of Wrangell would be that we would not have a contractor interfering with operations at The Marine Service Center next year, there would be significant savings in inspection costs by shortening the project, and through the rearrangement of the sequencing of the work, there is some good rock that will be excavated from Alternate A that can be used for fill in other areas of this project and save the City and Borough of Wrangell money on fill that would have had to be produced by the contractor and trucked in.”

Changing the sequence will cause some minor difficulties in the yard with some stored boats at a time when yard space is very limited.

Because of the construction, the entrance may be blocked at a time when several fishing boats need to be moved to the yard to be launched by the Travel Lift.

To resolve these problems, Rooney said staff has proposed removing a portion of the (Nolan) Center parking lot and The Marine Service Center yard, installing a temporary opening, which would allow the boats shipped by barge to gain access to the yard, and to temporarily store up to four boats in the Nolan Center South side of the lot.

Approximately half of the parking lot for the Nolan Center would be returned to its original condition before the end of June, according to Harbormaster Greg Meissner.