By Mike Benbow
Herald Writer
MUKILTEO — The public pier on the waterfront here that was the subject of an emergency closure last week may remain off limits until mid-summer if temporary repairs can’t be made.
The pier, operated by the Port of Everett to provide waterfront access, will require 12 new pilings that can’t be installed until after summer for environmental reasons, port commissioners were told Tuesday.
"The permit will take several months to obtain, and we will not be able to do the work until July 15," said John Klekotka of the port’s engineering staff.
A gate and chain link fencing were installed last week to keep people off the pier after port staff noticed that a number of pilings supporting the walkway appeared to be missing and others were leaning over.
Klekotka said a diver inspected the pier Monday and learned that 12 pilings must be replaced. He said the likely culprit for the damage was prop wash from the superferry at Mukilteo’s nearby ferry dock.
"It’s the effect the prop force has on the soil around the pilings," he said. "These ferries are twice as big as when this pier was built. The new pilings will have to be quite a bit deeper."
Klekotka said he’ll study the inspection results to see if temporary repairs can be made that will allow access sooner than mid-summer, something commissioners John Hopkins and Jim Shaffer said was important.
"There are more ways to shore that thing up and keep it going than to go first-class," Shaffer said. "I’d like to see us do that if it’s economically feasible, because there’s a lot of people that use that."
Temporary repairs that don’t involve work underwater may be necessary because the Army Corps of Engineers won’t issue a permit for pile driving until after the area is free of juvenile salmon. The earliest that work could begin is July 15.
Klekotka said it will take at least two weeks before he knows whether temporary measures will allow the pier to be reopened early.
"This is one of our top priorities here," he said. "We want to do everything we can to get it reopened."
You can call Herald Writer Mike Benbow at 425-339-3459
or send e-mail to benbow@heraldnet.com.
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