The Petersburg Borough is moving forward with a project to replace deteriorating breakwaters at the Banana Point boat launch, 25 miles south of Petersburg. After the Borough received additional funding for the project, the assembly approved a bid award to Ketchikan-based Western Dock & Bridge at a meeting on Nov. 3.
The Banana Point boat launch is an important transportation hub between Petersburg and other communities. It was originally built by the state, but they stopped maintenance in the area years ago. Now, some steel breakwater booms have detached and floated away entirely.
Last year, the borough received a $900,000 grant for the project from the Denali Commission, a federal organization that helps support utility, infrastructure, and economic projects in Alaska. However, when the borough sought out bids for the project, the lowest bid was $78,000 over budget.
Petersburg’s tribal government, Petersburg Indian Association (PIA), stepped in and provided the borough with the remaining money. The borough accepted $78,000 dollars from PIA during an assembly meeting on Oct. 20.
Tribal Administrator Jalyn Pomrenke said the boat launch is an important place for the community.
“We have our youth going back and forth for sports, subsistence, fishing, recreation, lots of stuff that goes on at Banana Point, and we want to make sure that it’s as safe as possible,” Pomrenke said. “If this is how we can help in this situation, this is a perfect opportunity for PIA to collaborate with public works to make sure this project is everything it can be.”
At the Nov. 3 meeting, Mayor Bob Lynn thanked the tribe for their collaboration with the borough.
“I can tell you that we would have probably lost that $900,000 had it not been for PIA,” Lynn said. “It made a huge difference.”
Construction for the breakwater project is expected to start next spring and end by the fall.
