Repairs underway at Harbor Patrol Beach

NEWPORT BEACH - A $2 million construction project is underway at Harbor Patrol Beach to replace the old seawall and repair the guest docks.

A 175-foot stretch of corroded steel in a Newport Beach bulkhead at 1901 Bayside Drive is being replaced “to prevent possible failure and damage to Harbor Patrol facilities,” according to a staff report with an Orange County Board of Supervisors agenda dated in December, when the project was approved.

The original wall was erected in 1952. While a portion of the bulkhead was replaced in 1998 with the redevelopment of the Harbor Patrol headquarters and grounds, the rest was not replaced because of a lack of funds, said Orange County Parks spokeswoman Marisa O’Neil.

The current project, which will replace the remainder of the bulkhead, and other repairs are estimated to cost $1.8 million, and the money is coming entirely from OC Parks budget funds, she said.

In addition to completing the 1998 project, the guest docks adjacent to the bulkhead will be replaced. Sediment buildup below the docks was removed in June.

About 1,200 cubic yards of sediment were dredged from beneath and around the docks; the added buildup on the harbor floor had rendered the nine docks unusable during low tides, O’Neil explained.

Mooring spots are available for boat owners during the ongoing construction, she said.

According to county documents, the project has been approved by both the California Costal Commission and meets the California Environmental Quality Act regulations.

The project is estimated to be complete by January 2012.