GZA congratulates Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries on completion of new Salem Willows Fishing Pier

GZA congratulates the Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries (DMF) on the opening of the fully renovated Salem Willows Park fishing pier, which had been closed for four years because of multiple damaging storms.

The new pier, which hosted a celebratory grand opening earlier this month, has been constructed three feet higher than the prior structure to improve resiliency to rising sea levels and storm surges. It is also compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements.

DMF retained GZA to provide engineering design, permitting, contract document preparation, and limited construction services for the replacement of the pier, which had suffered significant damage during storms in 2012 and 2013 and was finally closed after a major March 2018 storm. The $5 million project included full demolition of the existing timber-pile-supported pier and replacement with a timber-framed pier built on more resilient steel pipe piles. 

GZA President and CEO Patrick Sheehan said: “The Salem Willows Park fishing pier has been a much-loved community amenity for the North Shore for decades. GZA was honored to work with the DMF, the City of Salem, and many other partners to bring back this iconic and enormously popular facility for thousands of annual visitors to enjoy for generations to come.”

In addition to significant support from the City of Salem, the project was funded by nearly $2 million generated from the sale of Massachusetts recreational saltwater fishing permits and grants from the Commonwealth’s Seaport Economic Council and federal Sportfish Restoration Program.