Vermilion Harbor West Pier repairs starting soon

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and its contractor, Norwalk, Ohio-based Mark Schaffer Excavating-Trucking, are scheduled to begin repairs to the Vermilion Harbor West Pier the week of Sept. 4.

Construction will temporarily limit access to the Main Street beach while repairs are made, ensuring the harbor remains economically viable and able to provide access for recreation and refuge to boaters on the Great Lakes.

“The west pier is a key piece of infrastructure for safe navigation in Vermilion Harbor and Lake Erie,” said Lex Barker, USACE Buffalo District project manager. “We understand this construction impacts the community, and we appreciate their support as we repair this critical pier.”

Repairs to approximately 900 feet of the pier from the beach section to the north wrap will include removing all stone that has begun to settle on the lakeside of the pier. New granular fill will be placed beneath the stone with a reset of the cap stones to their initial elevations.

Construction of this $1.2 million project is 100 percent federally funded and expected to be complete by December 2023.