Saint Andrews Considers Options For Wharf Replacement

The Town of Saint Andrews is considering its options when it comes to replacing part of the aging Market Wharf.

Chris Spear, the town’s chief administrative officer, gave a presentation to councillors at a recent meeting.

Spear said much of the outer portion of the wharf was replaced after it was damaged by a fire in the mid-199s.

But Spear said the first third of the wharf, known as the approach, is still the original wooden structure from the 1950s.

“I’d say it’s in fair condition,” Spear said in a phone interview. “A few years ago, we had an engineers report that had concerns and we’ve done some work on it to reinforce it.”

“More recent engineers reports are saying that we only have probably three to seven years’ life left on it before major reinvestment,” Spear said in a phone interview.

During the meeting, Spear discussed a number of different options for replacing the wharf, with his presentation focusing on a breakwater-style wharf.

But Spear said not everyone was on board with that idea, which would be one of the more cost-effective options.

“Council has concerns that it may change the overall look and feel of the Town of Saint Andrews from the traditional wharf that is there right now,” he said, “so we’re also looking at a concrete wharf but also just replacing it with what’s there now as a wooden wharf.”

Estimated costs range from $3 million to $3.5 million, with the wooden wharf being the most expensive option, said Spear.

The town has put about $2.3 million into the wharf over the past 10 years, which includes some expansion, he said. They have spent about $200,000 over the past two years repairing the approach.

Spear said the wharf replacement would likely take place over the course of three years, adding the wharf would not be shut down during the summer months.

“We’ll do it in sections so that the tourism season is not affected,” he said. “In an ideal world, probably a late October to early May construction season for that particular project.”

The town will hold a public meeting in January to get input from the public. Councillors could make a decision as early as February, he said.

“It is a long-term project that will have an effect on the town for many decades, so they’re going to look for as much input as we can get while maintaining the parameters of our funding partners, who are the federal government, in helping us carry this out,” said Spear.