Beaufort’s Waterfront Park Facing Costly Repairs

In Beaufort, South Carolina, the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, a landmark of the city, is under significant threading for needing multi-million dollar repairs. It might cost the city millions of dollars just to keep the park in good shape.

Problem underneath the park

The park, constructed back in 1975, is at the brink of its life expectancy. The recent inspections indicate severe irregularities underneath the park and not in the park or pavilion itself. It’s not an immediate threat; however, a lack of immediate attention could lead to potentially dangerous situations in the future.

The seawall and park are currently standing on 570 stilts or pilings that keep the structure above the water. According to a marine diver inspection conducted in 2019, 47 out of these 570 pilings have structural integrity issues, also known as ‘failing’. The integrity issues include concrete erosion and noticeable oxidation or rebar protrusion – the metal rods supporting the concrete structure.

Further inspections revealed more widespread degradation in some areas, with pilings supposed to be 18-inch squares reduced to only 12-inch circles. This current situation has resulted in American Cruise Lines, which previously docked here, to temporarily stay away from the park.

Increasing concern about unseen issues

The inability to inspect the majority of stilts due to growing shoaling, however, is of serious concern, even more so than the currently visible issues. Close to 60% of the park piles are now submerged, making it impossible to inspect their condition.

The city is now in desperate need of a long-term solution to address these problems as the shoaling condition is unlikely to improve over time. But this solution may come at a very high cost.

The cost of solution

According to Beaufort City Manager, some estimates suggest the final costs of rehabilitating the park could be as high as $100 million, which is indeed a massive burden for the city’s economy. The city is now hoping to receive aid from the state and federal leaders since the park significantly contributes to not only the local but also the state economy.

The city has issued a request for qualifications for hiring experienced marine engineers for the project. The last date for submission is September 6, and the shortlisting will be done based on their demonstrated knowledge and experience in dealing with similar complex marine and waterfront projects

Post selection, the firm will conduct a comprehensive investigation of the situation underneath the park and give an exact estimate of the total cost involved. Currently, there’s no specific timetable for these tasks to kickoff.

In the meantime, the city is doing its part – it has been spending on minor fixes for Chambers Park over the years, including over $8 Million spent on renovations back in 2005. However, it needs a quicker solution given the current situation and the park’s significance.

Source: HERE News Network