Repairs on the damaged west side of the Shelter Island boat launch ramp began Jan. 27 and are expected to continue until April, according to the Port of San Diego.
The east-side floating dock will remain open during the project, the port said.
The west floating dock sustained significant damage in June 2023 due to sand accumulation underneath, which caused the dock to bottom out at low tide, according to the port.
The repair work includes pumping at least 200 cubic yards of sand under the dock onto the adjacent beach along the concrete boardwalk, which is experiencing erosion, the port said. It also includes installing neoprene sleeves and stainless-steel wedge anchors along the seawall to prevent future sand migration, removing the damaged floating dock and installing a new one.
The total cost, including engineering design and contingencies, is anticipated at nearly $717,000. In October, the Board of Port Commissioners approved a $386,775 contract with Harbour Constructors Co. to complete the construction work to restore the dock and prevent future problems. The port also agreed with Bellingham Marine to build a new custom-designed replacement dock for $266,114.
All construction is limited to between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, according to the port, and pedestrian and vehicle traffic is being routed around the site during the project.
After the damage to the dock was discovered, the port’s engineering department and consultants launched an investigation to determine the cause and extent and begin developing a repair plan.
The investigation determined that gaps in the western wall of the facility — designed to allow for wave reduction — had widened more than anticipated, and filter fabric installed during construction to prevent sand migration had deteriorated.
“These issues were likely exacerbated by frequent and often strong winter storms and were unforeseen in the design development process for the facility and during construction,” the port said in a statement. “To prevent future excess sand migration into the launch basin, staff and consultants worked diligently to develop solutions to cover the wall gaps and to replace the damaged floating dock.”
Port staff and consultants completed their investigation and started the engineering design process in fall 2023. The port also obtained necessary work permits through the California Environmental Quality Act in late 2023 and the Army Corps of Engineers in spring 2024.
As a condition of the Army Corps of Engineers permits, the sand removal must minimize disturbance of eelgrass in the launch basin, meaning no heavy sand removal equipment is allowed in the basin.
