The Frederiksted fishermen’s dock is slated for more than a quarter-million-dollar upgrade after it was severely damaged in Hurricane Lenny last November.
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources received nearly $30,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in April to rebuild dock. But DPNR Commissioner Dean Plaskett said that once bid requests were advertised, perspective contractors shied away from the project because the money was not sufficient to do the job.
On Wednesday, Plaskett said federal grant applications made by his department last year worth $254,000 have come through and will be added to the FEMA funding to rebuild the dock bigger and stronger.
Plaskett said the new dock will be more storm resilient and include the extension of two existing boat ramps. Because of the increased scope of work a new bidding process will have to be started, probably in two to three weeks, Plaskett said.
According to Sen. Gregory Bennerson, the present condition of the dock is a safety threat to boaters. He said fishermen and recreational users now bringing their boats or jet skis ashore are risking damage to their vessels because there are no docking fenders to prevent the vessels from colliding into what’s left of the dock.
"We’ll be moving in connection with Property and Procurement to make sure that the contracts are let in a efficient and legal manner," Plaskett said.