Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
PROJECT UPDATE

Updated:

October 23, 2019

Contact:

Jeffrey McLaughlin
Jeffrey.McLaughlin@mwra.com, (617) 305-5762

Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
Public Access Fishing Pier at Deer Island

Location for the Deer Island Fishing Pier.
The Contractor will remove the top layer of grass and rip-rap (or stone) to make room for a
concrete stab that will connect the Fishing Pier to the existing public access path.
The concrete slab will be supported by concrete pilings.

About this Project | Public Access and Parking | Project Updates | Contact Us

About this Project:

As of July 2019, the construction of a Fishing Pier at Deer Island has begun and is expected to be completed and accessible to the public in 2020. With the support of the MWRA, the Department of Fish and Game is constructing the pier to promote and improve programs and opportunities for saltwater fishing with the intent that those programs will increase public access to marine recreational facilities. MWRA maintains a similar fishing pier as part of the public access area at the Nut Island Headworks in Quincy and has found it to be well used and appreciated by the community.

The pier is being constructed on the northwestern section of the public access area of the island not far from the Mazzone Memorial, jutting out from the island in a southerly direction. Construction is in progress and the main access road will not be impacted, as there will always be at least one full traffic lane open at all times over the next several months. When access restrictions are in place, a police detail will assist in the traffic pattern. Signage has been posted to announce the project and any public access restrictions.

Important Security Information
The pier is designed and intended to be self-operating.
MWRA retains the right to temporarily close the pier should
weather conditions or other factors cause the MWRA to
believe that public safety may be jeopardized.

view from shore

The view above is from Boston Harbor facing Deer Island’s shore.
The center of the orange snow fence is on the location of the Deer Island Fishing Pier.
The Contractor will relocate rocks to prepare for installation of a retaining wall
and lay down location for a barge to drive pilings.

Public Access Plan and Parking During Construction:

Pedestrians will be redirected along some public access pathways from one side of the road to the other around the fishing pier during construction. There is signage in place for guests to direct them during any detours.

Public Access and Parking Once Completed:

Once open, the pier will be accessible to the public year-around, from sunrise to sunset. MWRA will provide 20 additional parking spaces for the Fishing Pier at Deer Island.

MWRA Contact:

If you have any questions please email Jeffrey.McLaughlin or call (617) 305-5762.

To receive electronic project updates, please register your email address with the MWRA Alerts Service, provided through Everbridge.

Updates

September 20, 2019

Construction update:

All piles have been installed. The contractor (ACK Marine) is currently working on installing pile caps. Piles caps are large 16” Wide X 16” Tall X 10’ long sections of timber that are placed over two piles and attached to the piles through an adopter plate, see below for illustration.

View of the vibratory hammer installing a permanent pile (1 of 2)

View of the vibratory hammer finishing installing a permanent pile (1 of 2)

View of the permanent piles and false work (1 of 3)

View of the permanent piles and false work (2 of 3)

View of the permanent piles and false work (3 of 3)

View above is an adopter plate installed on the top of a pile.
The adopter plate is use to connect a timber pile cap to the piles

September 20, 2019

Construction update:

This month, ACK mobilized a crane barge to the Deer Island shore line and installed the temporary piles. The temporary piles were used in order to install the permanent piles in the correct locations. The permanent piles have now been installed

Construction photos:

View of the supply barge.

View of false work. False work is a temporary system to ensure
the permanent piles are driven into the correct location.

View of the concrete headwall (on the bottom of the picture) and workers
preparing to install false work. The headwall is a foundation and a
retaining wall that will connect the pier to the public access path.

View of the vibratory hammer. The vibratory hammer is used to drive false
work and permanent piles into the ground and sea floor.

View of workers setting up a permanent pile to be driven into the sea floor.

View of the overall site. In the middle of the photo is the working badge.
The working barge houses the crane and vibratory hammer.
On the working barge workers prepare piles and false work for installation.

August 21, 2019

Construction update:

The contractor has begun installing formwork and rebar for the headwall.
The concrete was poured for the footing of the headwall.
A barge is expected on site to commence piling instillation in September.

Construction photos:

Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game Public Access Fishing Pier at Deer Island

Updates

Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game
Public Access Fishing Pier at Deer Island