Improvement project reaches its final stages; closures in effect next week

Harbormaster Charles Famolare said this week that the Winthrop public landing will be closed next week as the on-going improvements to the landing continue.

“The final finish course of the pavement and striping is going to be done next week, so we’re going to be closing the landing to all traffic and vehicles, from Monday (May 24) to Friday (May 28) at 4 p.m.,” said Famolare.

According to Famolare, the landing will be open in time for Memorial Day boaters to use the ramp to put their boats into the water and park their cars and trailers. The schedule for work calls for the landing to close beginning Monday morning, to allow workers to clean and prepare the site for the finish course of pavement to be laid on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, the pavement will be striped and late Friday afternoon the landing will once again be opened to vehicles, boats and trailers.

Famolare noted that there are no plans for a celebratory opening of the boating season at the landing, because local officials were not sure when the landing would be ready to be opened to the public. However, landscaping improvements are moving ahead at the landing, even as bid specifications for construction of the planned Maritime Center are being finalized for bid opening next month.

“There is a lot going on with regard to our plans for the landing,” said Famolare. “Proposals to provide ferry service through the town pier are due in on May 28 and the request for proposals package for the maritime center should be out by mid-June.”

Famolare did say that there is some expectation that the ferry service proposals may take a bit longer than the planned May 28 deadline, as specialized boats to serve Winthrop are needed and vendors are currently trying to make arrangements, so that they can meet those needs.