Yarmouth Planning for Winter Storm Repair Work

YARMOUTH – The town of Yarmouth has begun the planning process for making repairs to coastal infrastructure damaged during the last major winter storm.

The Bass Hole Boardwalk and Taylor Bray Farm Boardwalk remain closed after the January 4 storm caused significant damage to observation platforms due to a severe high tide and ice floes. Both facilities also suffered railing damage as well.

“We have gone out to solicit some cost estimates to get the planning process started to get those repairs done at the Taylor Bray Farm as well as at the Bass Hole boardwalk,” said Karl Von Hone, the town’s natural resources director.

Several pilings at town marinas have been lost and repairs are already underway to replace a navigational marker at the entrance to Parker’s River.

Von Hone said the nor’easter was a perfect storm as its peak strength coincided with a high tide that was even higher due to a moon event.

“[It] brought the water levels up and over most of the marsh systems allowing the wind and the water to drive the ice floes up over the marsh and impacting a lot of our boardwalks and marinas,” he said.

Von Hone said the town is going to work to try to get the infrastructure repaired for the summer.

“Right now it’s going to be a matter of working out how we are going to get the work done, the availability of contractors and funding,” he said. “There are still some questions that need to be answered, hopefully in the near future, so we can have those facilities ready for the season.”

Town officials are moving forward with filing for potential reimbursement through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Von Hone said the winter season is not over yet and more cold and winter storms could hit the region and could add to the extent of the damage.

“It’s a matter of addressing what we know we need to do now and if something happens – adjust to that,” he said.

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