Work being done to shore up sea wall

SUMMERSIDE - A million-dollar upgrade to a portion of the Summerside waterfront is beginning to take shape.
Around the end of October, crews with East Prince Construction began pouring concrete for a new seawall to strengthen the edges surrounding the marina at the Summerside Curling and Yacht Club.
The original seawall was built about 30 years ago using steel, which has since created a safety hazard, says Silver Fox CEO Marlene Boily.
"The original wall was totally deteriorated, so it was only a matter of time before it collapsed completely," she said. "There were huge holes in it. The new wall is all cement and concrete so we shouldn't get the eroding problem we did before."
Workers have now ceased construction until late March or early April, but the wall is complete from the club's boat slip around to Access PEI.
When it's completed, the seawall will reach to the corner, where the Spinnakers Landing lighthouse sits.
"It's a safety issue for the public, and the other businesses along the shore have a stake in it, too," said Boily. "The wall will keep the other buildings from undermining because without it, water will take the under structures and wash them out."
The construction company has been using underwater divers to pressure-wash portions of the wall and install the concrete forms.
The club set aside enough money to pay for roughly one-third the cost of the wall, while the federal and provincial governments are contributing the rest.
The construction is on schedule to be completed by May 15, 2010.