IPSWICH — Police Chief and Harbormaster Paul A. Nikas announces the boat ramp and ramp walls at the Town Wharf will be completely removed and replaced after further study of the structure.
During the initial reconstruction work scheduled for the wharf this spring, engineers found additional structural deficiencies and conducted an additional study to determine the best course of action for the repairs. Based on these findings, the ramp walls and structure will need to be fully replaced instead of being repaired and capped.
Work to cap the sea wall will proceed as originally planned.
The Town Wharf was closed to the public in mid-April and will remain closed while work is completed. Residents will not be able to use the boat launch until the work is completed.
Work on the wharf is expected to last until at least mid-June. However, construction crews are working diligently to complete the work as soon as possible. Residents are asked to avoid the area while the work is being done.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience this has caused, however the completed project will be safer and will serve the town and state for a long time,” Chief Nikas said. “We thank everyone for their patience and ask that they avoid the area for the time being.”
A list of other local boat launches can be found here.
The project is being funded and overseen by the Fishing and Boat Access Office of the Massachusetts State Department of Fish and Game.