Government of Canada repairs create open water near Portsmouth Olympic Harbour pier

The City of Kingston is advising residents that there will be areas of open water surrounding the outer breakwater at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour until further notice, as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) undertakes repairs to the pier.

All community members are advised by the City to exercise extreme caution near the construction site and stay off the ice as well as the pier.

According to a release, contactors secured by the federal department will cut access holes in the ice at strategic locations for dive teams to access infrastructure below surface level, and ice near the breakwater will be cleared to permit the movement of barges carrying equipment and supplies.

The City said that the construction team will be in the southwest section of the parking lot, along the pier leading to the breakwater, as well as along the breakwater.

The rehabilitation work will involve the replacement of three piles, repair of two piles, modification and replacement of eight wave screens and minor concrete repair to the breakwater surface, the City stated. According to the DFO, work is anticipated to be complete no later than April 15, 2022.