Staff reports structural failure, temporary repairs at Archie Glover boat ramp; new design and dredging planned

County staff told the Marine Advisory Committee on Feb. 3 that the Archie Glover boat ramp is in poor condition and receiving temporary repairs while a longer-term design and permitting process proceeds.

A staff member described the on-site work as "band-aid repairs" intended to keep trailers from losing axles or getting flat tires while the county completes engineering and permitting for a replacement ramp. "It's going to take about a year to get those documents all in line," the staff member said, adding crews were working multiple days this week to make the facility usable.

Staff also said channel dredging for Archie Glover is out for bid, with bids opening Feb. 23; the anticipated contract term is about 180 days and work could be completed by mid-summer. The contractor will also replace missing or damaged channel markers, the staff member said.

Staff explained the county’s newer ramp designs include structural elements — seawalls or bridge-deck type members — to prevent the ends from scouring or sliding into deeper water, a problem blamed in part on power-loading by some users. The Navarre Beach ramp and a Woodlawn ramp were cited as examples that have used more structural approaches and held up better.

Committee members asked that both the western and other ramps be addressed; staff said crews would work on both and reiterated the permanent solution is more costly but intended to avoid repeated failures.

The committee did not take a formal funding vote at the meeting; staff indicated engineering costs for the ramp design have been charged to channel-maintenance or design line items discussed elsewhere on the agenda.