Construction of the new Maine Maritime Academy Waterfront Facilities is well underway. The two-phase project will provide berthing for the Academy’s new training vessel as well as upgrades to other facilities along the waterfront.
Phase One includes a new pier supported by 243 steel pipe piles socketed 10 feet into bedrock. Precast and cast-in-place concrete pile caps will support precast deck panels and a cast-in-place concrete deck. In addition, Reed & Reed crews are building three new pile supported mooring dolphins, a precast concrete breakwater and new docking facilities for the Academy’s fleet of watercraft and training vessels.
With the Phase One concrete pier in place, crews will install all-new fender panels, bollards and various other enhancements plus utilities. Then it’s on to Phase Two of the project, which entails demolition of the existing timber pier and construction of a driven pile supported pier which will connect the newly built pier to land.
Resiliency is a key design element of the project. The pier incorporates upgraded materials and construction techniques to withstand tidal pressures, ice, and severe coastal storms. Environmental protection measures are also in place to minimize turbidity, protect marine habitats, and comply with regulatory standards during construction. When finished, the upgraded pier will be a robust and modern facility, providing a state-of-the-art training environment for the Academy’s fleet and programs for decades to come.