Construction on the Des Moines Marina, which began last fall, could be finished a couple of months ahead of schedule, according to Harbormaster Joe Dusenbury said.
The original schedule was for the work on the marina to be completed next February or March. But Dusenbury said, despite some significant disagreements at the beginning of the project, the contractor IMCO General Construction is optimistically looking to be finished by Thanksgiving.
The remodeling of the marina, which includes new bulkheads, a new boatlift and a complete replacement of the utilities' infrastructure, is a $5.4 million project. Dusenbury said the new boatlift should be operational by the first of August.
In December while IMCO was driving sheet piling for the bulkhead they were unable to drive the pilings to the design depth. IMCO asked the city to pay for the extra measures to drive the pilings to the proper depth, stating the subsurface conditions were different than stated in the bid contract.
A geotechnical survey was done, revealing the same conditions stated in IMCO's bid. The city agreed to pay for the bid only if it showed significantly different conditions from those stated on the bid.
Dusenbury said in the end it came down to the contractor's means and methods; IMCO thinking they would be able to drive the pilings with smaller equipment. They ended up having to use a hammer twice the size, Dusenbury said.
There were also a couple other times where the contractor came to the city and, as Dusenbury described it, had long and very tense discussions. But each time, with the help of the engineering firm Moffatt and Nichol Engineers, an agreement was reached between Des Moines and IMCO.
Dusenbury said IMCO always left the disagreements at the table and it in no way affected their work.
The main thing keeping the marina from private development has been mostly the old electrical and water infrastructure, Dusenbury said. He said the construction was done with future development in mind, which could occur just north of the marina office.
The marina brings in between $3.5 to $4 million-in-revenue a year. Most of the revenue comes from permanent mooring. Dusenbury said revenue will be affected somewhat this year, as they have had to vacate some of the dry shelters, a couple of which will be permanently torn down.
