Bulkhead Project Reaches Substantial Completion

ORLEANS – Two years after town meeting voters OK’d an override to rebuild the commercial bulkhead at Rock Harbor, the much anticipated project is due to reach substantial completion by week’s end.

“It means the majority of the project is complete, and there’s just a few minor punch list items remaining,” Rich Waldo, the town’s public works director, said when reached by phone last week. He said the project is expected to be largely finished by Friday.

Voters at the May 2024 annual town meeting approved a $9 million debt exclusion to overhaul the bulkhead, which had long fallen into disrepair. That cost was partially offset by a $1 million Massachusetts Seaport Economic Council grant awarded to the town.

As far back as 2017, portions of the bulkhead were closed off to parking due to its instability. The neighboring town pier, meanwhile, posed safety issues to commercial fishermen using the wooden ladders to offload their catch.

Now a new bulkhead set back an additional 20 feet allows for end-in docking for commercial fishing boats. There’s also a new hoisting system, a restabilized seawall and new space for docking for members of the Rock Harbor charter fleet.

Commercial fishermen and the charter fleet have had access to the new bulkhead and pier system since the fall. But more work was needed over the winter to complete additional infrastructure and bring utilities to the property, Waldo said. Work included the installation of pilings, concrete work at the loading dock and platform, stormwater management work and the installation of underground utilities. Work was also done to finish the public viewing area adjacent to the bulkhead.

Wind and other weather conditions made for a longer process bringing utilities to the bulkhead, Waldo said.

“We had a terrible winter,” he said. “A lot of wind, a lot of freezing, a lot of frost. That slows things down.”

But as work ramps down, visitors to Rock Harbor will notice a “drastic reduction” in construction equipment and fencing in the area of the project. 

“You’re going to start seeing the fencing come down, you’re going to start seeing the parking lot open up,” he said. “After that you might see a pickup truck or utility truck remaining to do final things.”

Initial paving of the bulkhead parking lot began last week. Waldo said that the initial course layer of pavement will be followed by final paving in the fall, as well as striping. 

There also will be some additional work on Rock Harbor Road, Waldo said. That includes realigning Bay View Road to allow for an easier right turn onto Rock Harbor Road toward Main Street.

Substantial completion means that the area will be much more accessible to visitors, which is good news for neighbors including Cap’t Cass Rock Harbor Seafood, which is gearing up for the busy summer season.

“This project was supposed to be done well before right now,” said Waldo, who called the business “a great partner” over the course of the construction. “There are things that come up that sometimes happen on the waterfront. So we tried to work closely with the business owner, and I think one of the best things we can do for them given the long interruption is to get things operational by Memorial Day.”

Young’s Fish Market, meanwhile, will not be in operation this season after a crane working on the bulkhead accidentally struck the building in November. The building was demolished soon after, and Waldo said that conversations between the business, the town and the contractor, Coastal Marine Construction, are ongoing. 

Young’s General Manager Mark Achille said after the accident that the owners plan to rebuild and reopen the popular market. But Natural Resources Director Nate Sears told the select board in January that the building would not be rebuilt in time for this summer.

“We’re working to provide them with the support that they need,” Waldo said. “When they’re ready to make the decision on what their path is going to be, we’ll be there to work with them.”

With the completion of the project, Orleans joins Chatham and Provincetown as the latest community to upgrade commercial fishing infrastructure. For Waldo, the project will hopefully draw more people to one of the town’s premiere waterfront assets.

“I think the project is going to highlight the importance of what Rock Harbor is for our community,” he said. “Having the ability to go down there, see the working waterfront, to witness the daily active fishing there, it’s just going to be a significant change to the operations at that harbor.”

Waldo said the town plans to have a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the project’s completion in mid-June.