By Greg Ellison

(April 9, 2020) Despite the enforced lull in activities during the covid-19 pandemic, current and pending bulkhead repairs remain on track in Ocean Pines.

General Manager John Viola said, in addition to the present maintenance efforts winding up by May 1, the next batch of repairs scheduled for the fall were approved last month.

“At this point, the bulkhead contractors are finishing up the work from the 2019-2020 fiscal year,” he said. “We believe we’re on plan at this point and the bulkhead team has confirmed we’re pretty much on track.”

The OPA Board approved a contract with Fisher Marine Construction for $1.1 million to perform bulkhead repairs in fiscal year 2020-2021 during its meeting on March 7.

Viola said Fisher was selected among a trio of bidders because of its low price and its consistently reliable work in the past.

“Most of that work would start in September and we’re assuming everything will be back up and running by then,” he said. “Construction at this time does not fall under the executive orders issued by Gov. [Larry] Hogan.”

The bid terms from Fisher are for 3,330 liner feet of vinyl bulkhead, including 2,430 liner feet of along North Pintail Drive and 900 liner feet along Stacy Park Canal at a cost of $355 per foot.

The repairs were required due to failing bulkheads, tied in part to worm damage.

“We expect the work to remain on schedule, even with everything else closing,” he said.