WAUKEGAN, Ill. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Waukegan Harbor and Marina to reopen the Waukegan South Pier for public use Aug. 22.
The pier is a very popular destination to visit, especially in the summer months, said Sam Cunningham, mayor of Waukegan.
The first fishermen ventured out onto the pier shortly after the ceremony.
“We are excited to say that this portion of the project is complete two months ahead of schedule, though we still have some stone placement work to do on the Small Boat Harbor breakwater,” said Col. Aaron Reisinger, commander and district engineer of the Corps’ Chicago District.
The current repairs rehabilitate 792 feet of pier surface from the boat launch to the lighthouse at a cost of about $1.6 million. The Corps’ contractor, Foundation Mechanics, LLC, removed deteriorated concrete, placed new concrete and added nine new access ladders.
The last time the pier was improved was in 2003 and in 2005. The old pier surface was riddled with exposed rebar and worn-away concrete.
The new pier surface will improve walkability and allow wheel chair access to popular fishing points along the harbor and beyond the breakwater.
Foundation Mechanics, LLC, is a woman owned, small business. The Corps’ small business mission is to sustain USACE as a premier organization in developing small businesses, maximize opportunities to participate in our procurements, and ensure a broad base of capable suppliers to support the Corps' mission and strengthen our nation’s economic development.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago District is responsible for water resources development in the Chicago metropolitan area, an area of about 5,000 square miles with a population of about nine million, through a variety of projects including flood risk management and storm damage reduction, navigation, aquatic ecosystem restoration, emergency management and interagency and international services.