Posted on September 1, 2020
Construction on the $6 million rehabilitation of James City County Marina may begin this fall, after the the project was delayed last winter due to a lack of qualified bids, according to James City County Parks Administrator Alister Perkinson.
Phase one of the improvement project for the marina, which is located near Jamestown Settlement, was previously scheduled to begin by the end of 2019. The county sought out contractors to handle the project in December, but this was delayed after receiving just one qualified bid.
The process for soliciting bids that resumed earlier this year closed on Aug. 12, Perkinson said, and the county now has three qualified bids from contractors interested in the project. A recommendation is being prepared for the Board of Supervisors’ September meeting.
“We’re still in the process of evaluating those bids, and that’s kind of an ongoing discussion,” Perkinson said in a phone interview Thursday. “There’s not a whole lot I can say about that now, but we should have something to present to the Board of Supervisors at their Sept. 8 board meeting.”
If the contract is awarded, then phase one of the project would begin in October or November, with plans to finish by April, Perkinson said. Phase two of the project is in the five-year Capitol Improvements Plan for fiscal year 2023.
The $6 million budget for the project is split between its two phases, with “slightly more” budgeted towards phase two, according to Perkinson.
Phase one of the improvements will include the demolition of all the uncovered boat slips that are located in the front of the marina, including the bulkhead that goes past the boat ramp, and the installation of a living shoreline. The existing dock would be replaced with a floating dock system, the fuel tank would be relocated, and the entrance road would be repaved.
Dredging in the marina basin would also begin in the first phase. Perkinson said this is being done to improve the depth of the basin and make it easier for boats to get in and out. He explained that the depth of the basin has changed over time, with areas that are now relatively shallower, which is partly why some some of the boat slips have had to be closed.
The canoe and kayak launch would also be moved to a small cove that’s separate from the marina basin. Perkinson said that canoe and kayak users are being separated from the marina’s motorized boat users for safety reasons.
In phase two, the contractor would replace the two floating, covered boathouses and add a third, uncovered boat slip system. Once the project is completed there will be 110 boat slips, whereas now there’s 85 slips considered usable, according to Perkinson.
Dredging would be completed during the second phase, and there would also be increased parking at the marina, including spaces for boat trailers. The contractor would also move the boat ramp from the front of the marina store to where the basin meets Powhatan Creek.
“Where it is now, it’s a tight fit,” Perkinson said about the boat ramp. “It’s a little awkward for boaters to get in and out. Putting it further out would allow boaters to go straight in and out of Powhatan Creek, and not have to navigate through the marina basin.”
The improvements are part of an effort to make the marina a more appealing recreation destination and a strong economic driver for James City County. The county provided financial support for Billsburg Brewery to set up at the marina in 2017, and the Office of Economic Development and EDA want to further serve marina patrons with food service/restaurant options.
Perkinson said that there’s been a “huge uptick” in recreational activities this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents looking for outdoor activities have been coming to the James City County marina for boating, kayaking and canoeing, and there’s also been a “huge increase” in trail use with the site’s access to the Virginia Capital Trail, he said.
Alex Perry, 757-285-9397, alexander.perry@virginiamedia.com
Source: dailypress
