PLUM ISLAND— On hold since the end of January, stakeholders as recently as last week expressed confidence the Salisbury Beach sand replenishment project would resume Monday (Feb. 10) – assuming a new supply of sand was discovered.
But during Friday’s Merrimack River Beach Alliance subcommittee meeting at PITA Hall, state officials announced they were still looking more a new sand source pushing the re-start date at least until Feb. 18.
“They have committed to keep everything on site until Feb. 18, and I’m hoping next week I’ll be able to say we are good for the 18th,” DCR engineer Darryl Forgione told more than a dozen people who filled the Plum Island meeting space.
In May, the state Department of Conservation and Recreation committed $1.75 million to the project to stop erosion. The erosion was exacerbated in December 2022 when a major winter storm hit the region.
The project, awarded to T Ford Company Inc. of Georgetown, has seen large volumes of sand brought to the beach to restore the most affected areas. The work began just before Christmas.
The work has been on pause after New Hampshire-based Ossipee Aggregate halted sand deliveries after supplying 30,000 tons for the project. Before work was halted, crews were able to complete 4,400 linear feet of the 8,400 linear foot project, getting through what officials previously described to be the most at risk parts of the beach.
The meeting held Friday at PITA Hall was attended by around a dozen individuals including Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, Town Manager Neil Harrington, Selectmen Michael Colburn and Donna Abdulla, former selectmen Chuck Takesian, and a couple members of the community such as local contractor Henry Richard Jr.
Leading the roughly 45-minute meeting were Forgione and town environmental consultant Tom Hughes, who explained a recently submitted change order would cover an additional 15,000 tons of sand.
A change order is a written amendment to a contract that modifies the work, schedule or price. It will be processed when a new sand source is secured.
“We have several sources of sediment. There is a shortage. We have reached as far as the Cape and we have been told if we find any to lock it in because it is like gold,” Hughes said.
Forgione said he is trying to tap connections to see if they can get anywhere further with Ossipee, which currently is not expected to be able to offer more sand until May.
“We are trying to get Ossipee to offer even 5,000 more tons at a minimum, because it is the best fit,” Forgione said.
In regards to other sources, Hughes said they are “very close.”
Forgione spoke about estimated completion timing once the project resumes.
“It would be a couple of weeks,” Forgione said.
Addressing the success of the project prior to the pause, Hughes thanked officials like Tarr and DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo for coming out to the beach while urging other officials to do the same.
“We are having a very successful project and no one is really coming out to see it,” Hughes said.