Harbor master Frank outlines pier repairs and breakwater stone shipment from Wisconsin

Harbor master Frank told the Michigan City Port Authority Commission at its Aug. 3 meeting that the Army Corps of Engineers will start repairs to the north end of the lighthouse pier this week and expects to complete the work by the end of September. "They're en route to here or about to be. They expect to be on-site starting probably Wednesday afternoon," Frank said.

Frank described the repair methodology: crews will remove some stone at the pier end, install sheet pile on three sides, backfill with stone and grout, pour a new top, and then replace the stone. He said at least two large barges with cranes will be used and that staging will occur in a fenced area behind Fish Camp.

Frank also outlined a separate Army Corps project to reinforce the outer breakwater. "They're going to add another 1,300 ton of stone on the outer breakwater," he said, and said that work is expected to start the first week of October with the stone arriving by barge from Wisconsin. Frank cautioned he could not confirm whether 1,300 tons would fully fill a gap in the middle of the breakwater.

The projects are scheduled sequentially: immediate pier stabilization and then the larger breakwater reinforcement. Frank said the pier repair will use temporary staging and barge operations; the board did not take formal action on the projects at the meeting. The harbor master and the port attorney said they will report back to the board as contract and staging details are finalized.